Eight NCAA baseball super regionals begin Friday with best-of-three series that determine the final College World Series field. Beat writers picked Georgia over Mississippi State, Auburn over Ole Miss, Oregon over Texas, UNC over USC, Kansas over Oklahoma, Wes
When the NCAA super regionals begin Friday, the Road to Omaha stops being a plan and becomes a weekend survival test: two wins, no second chances, and just enough baseball to turn a season into a memory.
Eight teams have earned the right to host, and each series starts with one urgent question—who can seize momentum first? Beat writers covering the local teams offered their predictions for the super regionals and why they believe their teams can get the job done.
Super regionals begin Friday as eight teams will book their spot in the College World Series with two wins this weekend. The USA TODAY Network will provide comprehensive super regionals coverage this weekend with reporters at seven of the eight sites.
Athens Super Regional: Georgia vs Mississippi State
Georgia is the pick, with Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald pointing to “the home team Bulldogs’ big bats” even against Mississippi State’s formidable arms. Weiszer expects Georgia in three games.
Sam Sklar of The Clarion Ledger agreed that Mississippi State probably has the edge in starting pitching, but flagged a bullpen as the swing factor. His prediction also goes to Georgia, specifically in three games.
Auburn Super Regional: Ole Miss vs Auburn
Adam Cole of the Montgomery Advertiser expects Auburn to control the matchup in the end, arguing that Ole Miss and Auburn profile similarly on the mound, while Auburn has a roster filled with veterans. Cole’s call is Auburn in three games.
Sam Hutchens of The Clarion Ledger also projects a three-game series between battle-tested SEC teams. He gives Auburn the edge because it has already fended off elimination four times in the regional.
Austin Super Regional: Texas vs Oregon
Alec Dietz of the Eugene Register Guard points to Oregon’s run-prevention early—its starting rotation allowed just one run in the Eugene Regional. and the bullpen gave up just two. Dietz’s prediction is Oregon. with an upset over Texas to reach the College World Series for the first time since 1954.
Chapel Hill Super Regional: North Carolina vs USC
Rodd Baxley of the Fayetteville Observer says North Carolina has the strongest “combination of pitching. defense and offense” and expects the Tar Heels to win this super regional in three games. UNC is described as having cruised through regionals, while USC maxed out with a Monday finish.
Lawrence Super Regional: Kansas vs Oklahoma
Jordan Guskey of the Topeka Capital Journal believes Oklahoma can beat the presumed favorite, citing Oklahoma’s upset of Georgia Tech in the Atlanta Regional. But Guskey also puts weight on the momentum Kansas has, predicting Kansas to advance.
Colton Sulley of The Oklahoman centers his pick on Oklahoma’s recent comebacks: Oklahoma enters the Lawrence Super Regional fueled by its two comeback victories over No. 2 overall seed Georgia Tech. He predicts Oklahoma will make its second CWS appearance in five years.
Morgantown Super Regional: West Virginia vs Cal Poly
For West Virginia. the key storyline is surviving when the margin is smallest. Cal Poly advanced out of the Los Angeles Regional without having to play the nation’s top-ranked team UCLA. West Virginia, meanwhile, had its backs against the wall and survived three elimination games to advance.
Gavin Kelly is singled out for production in the regional run: three home runs and eight RBIs in five regional games. The pick is West Virginia in three games, according to the projection.
Troy Super Regional: Troy vs Little Rock
Maxwell Donaldson of The Gadsden Times says he underestimated Little Rock last week in Hattiesburg. but credits the Trojans’ opponent for proving him wrong. Donaldson’s prediction stays with Troy in three games. describing it as a strong team and noting it’s hard for “lightning to strike twice.”.
Tuscaloosa Super Regional: Alabama vs St. John’s
Emilee Smarr of Tuscaloosa News predicts a tight, back-and-forth series, leaning on Alabama’s veterans and home-field momentum. Her call is Alabama to take the series in three games.
The schedule and how to watch
Athens Super Regional (No. 3 Georgia vs No. 14 Mississippi State)
Game 1: 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 (ESPN)
Game 2: Noon ET on Sunday, June 7 (ESPN)
Game 3 (if necessary): Time TBD
Chapel Hill Super Regional (No. 5 North Carolina vs USC)
Game 1: 3 p.m. ET on Friday, June 5 (ESPN2)
Game 2: 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 (ESPN)
Game 3 (if necessary): Time TBD
Austin Super Regional (No. 6 Texas vs No. 11 Oregon)
Game 1: 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 (ESPN)
Game 2: 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 7 (ESPN)
Game 3 (if necessary): Time TBD
Tuscaloosa Super Regional (No. 7 Alabama vs St. John’s)
Game 1: 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 (ESPN2)
Game 2: 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 7 (TBD)
Game 3 (if necessary): Time TBD
Lawrence Super Regional (No. 15 Kansas vs Oklahoma)
Game 1: 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 (ESPN2)
Game 2: 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 7 (TBD)
Game 3 (if necessary): Time TBD
Troy Super Regional (Troy vs. Little Rock)
Game 1: 5 p.m. ET on Friday, June 5 (ESPN)
Game 2: 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 (ESPN2)
Game 3 (if necessary): Time TBD
Morgantown Super Regional (No. 16 West Virginia vs Cal Poly)
Game 1: Noon ET on Friday, June 5 (ESPN2)
Game 2: Noon ET on Saturday, June 6 (ESPN2)
Game 3 (if necessary): Time TBD
Auburn Super Regional (No. 4 Auburn vs Ole Miss)
Game 1: 8 p.m. ET on Friday, June 5 (ESPN2)
Game 2: 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6 (ESPN)
Game 3 (if necessary): Time TBD
All super regionals will air on the ESPN Family of Networks. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and ESPN+. Fubo is also an option for the best-of-three series, carrying the ESPN family of networks and offering a free trial to new subscribers.
NCAA baseball super regionals College World Series predictions Georgia Mississippi State Auburn Ole Miss Texas Oregon North Carolina USC Kansas Oklahoma West Virginia Cal Poly Troy Little Rock Alabama St. John's ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+