The super regionals are officially here. Sixty-four teams started this journey a week ago, and now a special 16 of them get to continue their quest for a national title.
While the regionals are definitely the more, let’s say, chaotic bunch of games, the supers provide a different type of entertainment. It’s the first to win two games in the best-of-three series.1 If your team can do that, then a trip to Omaha is on the horizon. If not, then it’s time to start the offseason.
There are several different ways I could go about previewing these matchups. Real analysis that’s filled with statistics and facts is attractive, sure, but vibes are really where it’s at. And to be honest, aren’t vibes and feelings what this world is built on anyway? Or is that too New Age? Doesn’t matter. Vibes are where I’ll dwell, at least today.
This exercise won’t be too complicated. If you’re at all worried, go check out my regional preview from last week where I previewed that round with a similar process. Trust me, it’s not scary.
Before jumping into the crazy predictions that I might have, it’s probably important to lay out who all is playing this weekend. Here are the super regional matchups that are in store:
Louisville Super Regional: Louisville (38-21, 15-15) vs. Miami (34-25, 15-14)
Corvallis Super Regional: No. 8 Oregon State (45-13-1) vs. No. 9 Florida State (41-14, 17-10)
Chapel Hill Super Regional: No. 5 North Carolina (45-13, 18-11) vs. Arizona (42-18, 18-12)
Auburn Super Regional: No. 4 Auburn (41-18, 17-13) vs. No. 13 Coastal Carolina (51-11, 26-4)
Los Angeles Super Regional: No. 15 UCLA (45-16, 22-8) vs. UTSA (47-13, 23-4)
Durham Super Regional: Duke (40-19, 17-13) vs. Murray State (42-14, 17-8)
Baton Rouge Super Regional: No. 6 LSU (46-15, 19-11) vs. West Virginia (44-14, 19-9)
Fayetteville Super Regional: No. 3 Arkansas (46-13, 20-10) vs. No. 14 Tennessee (46-17, 16-14)
That’s a pretty spicy slate of matchups, if I do say so myself. The shocking lack of national seeds truly widens the possibilities for what could occur this weekend. Anything and everything is on the table.
So, what could happen? Lots of things, probably, but in my eyes, there are really only a couple of possibilities. Here is what I believe will transpire, and who I think will be making the trip to Omaha this time next week:
Louisville Super Regional: Despite overwhelming odds, Louisville winds up getting an opportunity to host a super. Who among us could’ve seen that coming? I don’t know, how about me? That’s right, I picked the Cardinals to be here, and I fully expect them to come out on top over Miami. Why? Because of the Louisville Slugger bat factory, obviously. The wonders that that place can bring are truly immeasurable.
Corvallis Super Regional: Perhaps the most challenging super regional to pick is this one between Oregon State and Florida State. Both schools carry a sense of prominence when it comes to college baseball, but I think that the Seminoles will get the best of the Beavers this time around. Contrary to popular belief, Florida State’s baseball program has never won a national championship. Their quest to achieve that should continue here in 2025.
Chapel Hill Super Regional: Remember what I said: Carolina Blue will forever and always be the best color on this earth. That color will single-handedly carry the Tar Heels on to Omaha. And some pretty good pitching headlined by Jack Knapp and Jason DeCaro, will help as well. It’s mostly the Carolina Blue, though.
Auburn Super Regional: The “experts” will tell you that the SEC team is the favorite here, but what do they know? Coastal Carolina’s the school that’s won a national championship most recently — in 2016 — and knows better than most of the teams in the field what is required to reach that level of play. So, give me Coastal. The fightin’ Chanticleers will live another day!
Los Angeles Super Regional: It’s UTSA. I’m sorry, UCLA, but I’m the vibes guy, and that means that I am legally obligated to pick the Roadrunners. UTSA’s run through the Austin Regional was nothing short of spectacular, and to see that story continue to Omaha would be a dream. Getting to see amazing stories play out is what sports are all about for me, so go Roadrunners, and I’m so sorry, Bruins.
Durham Super Regional: The same logic that I applied to Los Angeles could apply here. After all, Murray State is the darling four-seed that nobody gave a chance to. Still, my head is pulling me in Duke’s direction, and it’s hard to resist. I wish I could go with Murray State, and I’m sure I’ll be putting my foot in my mouth by the end of the weekend when they inevitably find a way to win, but Duke it is.
Baton Rouge Super Regional: LSU barely got by Little Rock, while West Virginia played exceptionally well against some high-level opponents during the Clemson Regional. As a certified Big 12 homer, the Mountaineers present me with an easy choice. I’m going to take it. Bank on West Virginia getting to Omaha for the first time in school history.
Fayetteville Super Regional: The most enticing matchup of the weekend is the easiest decision for me, personally. Arkansas will beat Tennessee, and if the Razorbacks somehow don’t, then I’ll be catastrophically upset. Wehiwa Aloy, Logan Maxwell, Zach Root, Ryder Helfrick, and Cam Kozeal, please don’t fail me now! Let’s get the Hogs back to the College World Series.
Only two wins separate these squads from reaching Omaha. Reaching the College World Series is the goal for every college baseball program in America, and 16 schools are so close to reaching the promised land.
If your school is lucky enough to still be in the hunt, don’t take it for granted. It takes a special group of players to reach this point in the season, and with how unpredictable baseball can be, the quest for a championship can end just as quickly as it got started.
See, I told you that wouldn’t be scary.
If you’re at all confused about the format of this tournament, I don’t blame you. Just remember, every stage is double elimination in some way. In the regionals, it’s a four-team double-elimination bracket. In the supers, it’s just a best-of-three series. In the College World Series, it goes back to a bracket format.