The road to omaha Regional preview & best bets

Until the last few weeks, the Longhorns were the team to dethrone in the SEC. Winners of the conference regular season and one of the strongest pitching staffs in the country, the Austin Regional feels like a promising draw for Texas to right the ship. That said, UTSA is one of the
toughest mid-majors in the country and beat the Longhorns earlier this season. Kansas State has struggled with the best this year, but did enough to get into the field and has experience, making them an intriguing squad to watch.

The Pick: Texas

Tabbed by many sites as the ‘easiest’ regional in the bracket, Arkansas has to be happy with their draw, even though they have failed to get out of their own regional in back-to-back seasons. Kansas and Creighton both have strength of schedule ranks well above 50, but the Jayhawks set a regular-season program record for wins and could play spoiler.

The Pick: Arkansas

A top-4 national seed was a bit of a surprise for the Tigers on Selection Monday, but their RPI of 3 did a lot of convincing. After playing the toughest schedule in the country, they will welcome NC State, Stetson and Central Connecticut State to Plainsman Park. The Wolfpack are a
dangerous No. 2 seed who felt they were host worthy for most of the season. Do not sleep on the Hatters either, a 40-win club that rolled through the ASUN.

The Pick: NC State

North Carolina plowed through the ACC Tournament and will look to use its dominant pitching staff to advance to Omaha in back-to-back years. Jake Knapp has not lost a start all year (12-0), but he and the Tar Heels have work to do. Oklahoma presents two quality starting arms and a
top-15 strength of schedule, while Nebraska just swept the Big Ten Tournament to secure an at-large berth. Holy Cross did more of the same, winning the Patriot League regular and postseason.

The Pick: North Carolina

Regardless of how good an LSU team is, Alex Box Stadium will always be one of the toughest places to play. Luckily for the Tigers, they are elite this year as well, and will welcome three mid-majors to the pinnacle of SEC baseball. Dallas Baptist is no easy out though, ranking 20th in RPI and bringing some offensive firepower. Rhode Island and Little Rock have had unbelievable seasons, but this regional feels like a two-man race.

The Pick: LSU

Georgia quietly has 42 wins and an RPI of 2, but they were not gifted a cakewalk of a regional. The Blue Devils had high expectations in 2025, but settled in the middle of the ACC with a lot of dangerous pieces. Oklahoma State lost two games the entirety of May, and with one of the toughest schedules in the country, could be a sleeper in Athens.

The Pick: Oklahoma State

Conference-less Oregon State still made their presence felt, only losing two series’ all year. But the strength of schedule questions loom large. TCU was in prime position to be the lone host out of the Big 12, but they stumbled in the conference championship game. USC exhaled when they heard their name called, but power conference bubble teams have been known to cause problems. Feels like anyone’s regional to secure.

The Pick: TCU

Seminole fans remember a time where ACC player of the year Alex Lodise and future first-rounder Jamie Arnold had Florida State set up for a potential top-4 seed. They struggled down the stretch and could not make the finals of the conference tournament, but they are elite and a trendy pick to make it to Omaha. Mississippi State may have better odds, but do not miss out on Northeastern this weekend. Winners of 27 in a row and leading the country in nearly every pitching stat, the Huskies have a path to make noise.

Pick: Florida State

There is already controversy in Oxford, and a pitch has not been thrown yet. Georgia Tech won the ACC regular season title and did not receive a top-16 host spot. According to the live look-in during the Selection Show, the Yellow Jackets were not pleased. And the committee did not do them any favors with the Rebels or the Hilltoppers, who are both playing some of their best baseball at the right time. Murray State, champions of the Missouri Valley, has not lost a series since March.

Pick: Ole Miss

There is a case to be made that the Clemson regional is the toughest of them all. Highlighted by the Tigers, the No. 11 seed boasts 44 wins and a top-10 RPI. But lookout, because West Virginia comes in with 41 wins and a Big 12 regular season crown. Then you have battle-tested Kentucky who snuck into the field, but has multiple series wins against tournament SEC teams. The odds speak for themselves, this one will be a gauntlet.

The Pick: Clemson

Oregon was the team to beat in the Big Ten in their inaugural season. They rolled through the conference slate, but have some question marks entering the regional weekend. They represent the second-lowest RPI in a host team (16). Arizona left no question marks in Arlington last week, scorching through the Big 12 Tournament and securing their crown in their first season in the conference. But keep your eyes peeled for Cal Poly, one of the most dangerous mid-majors in the field, and an RPI in the top-30.

The Pick: Oregon

If I am Coastal Carolina, I am rolling my eyes at this draw. You win 48 games, have an RPI of 8, and win the conference tournament but are rewarded with a potential date with the scorching hot Florida Gators. Favored to advance, Florida started their SEC season 1-10, but have since
won six consecutive series.

The Pick: Coastal Carolina

The reigning national champions slumped down the stretch, but a deep run in the SEC Tournament warranted a national seed and more postseason baseball in Knoxville. The talent in this regional is outstanding, but it will funnel down to who can put it together. Wake Forest and Cincinnati have arguably underperformed this season, but they found their way into the field and have an opportunity to advance.

The Pick: Tennessee

The other PAC 12 to Big Ten counterpart of Oregon also found themselves with a home regional, but also enter with similar insecurities. UC Irvine and their RPI of 23 make for a formidable mid-major challenge, but Arizona State may cause the most problems in Los Angeles. They have hit every high and every low this season, but found themselves in the field with the talent to advance to a super regional.

The Pick: Arizona State

It was not until the official announcement that Southern Miss knew they would be hosting, as the last national seeds had a bit of controversy surrounding them. The Golden Eagles have a spectacular resume, including wins over Ole Miss and TCU, along with a dominant conference
run. But waiting in the wings is another dangerous SEC squad who thought they would be playing at home this weekend. It does not get any easier with scorching hot Miami as the No. 3 seed. It is a wide open contest in Hattiesburg.

The Pick: Alabama