CBN Regional Projections 1.3

By: CBN  |  5/1/12                                

We are inching closer and closer to postseason college baseball – one of the more fun times of the year for those that enjoy this sport. As we get closer to the regular season's end, we seem to be getting a much clearer picture as to who is a contender (Baylor, South Carolina) and who is a pretender (Texas, Central Florida). But there are still some teams that we aren't quite sure about (Kentucky, Stanford).

We have once again tried our best to accurately paint a decent postseason picture, but first some headlines:

– Probably the one thing that jumps out at everyone first is Florida falling out of the national seed spotlight. In fact, we might be the only projection that doesn't have the Gators as a top 8 seed. However, we have reasons for that. Yes, Florida has an RPI that is at the top or near it, but RPI doesn't play as huge of a role as some may think (ask LSU last year). The Gators are coming off a series loss to Arkansas – their second at home and third in the conference. They are fourth in the SEC now behind the three-way tie that is Kentucky, LSU, and South Carolina – who takes Florida's place this week. Even though the Gators took 2 of 3 from the Gamecocks earlier this season, this is a text-book "what have you done for me lately?" scenario and the Gators haven't done much.

– With Kentucky dropping a series to Vanderbilt, the Wildcats fall from the top of the mountain down to four, paving way for Florida St. to assume to the top spot once again.

– Baylor continues to move up as they are now nipping at the heels at the Seminoles.

– Quietly but efficiently, Purdue continues to win while others lose (the debate for who plays the tougher schedule is valid though). The Boilermakers are now third.

– The ACC continues to get nine teams in with three hosts, but it's the SEC that is playing the best baseball right now as we have five of their eight entrants hosting. It may be a bit much, but when your conference has won the last three national titles, it's understandable.


Here it is:

LAST FIVE IN: Oklahoma, Southern California, Indiana St., Southeastern Louisiana, Stetson
FIRST FIVE OUT: Cal Poly, Wichita St., Tulane, Illinois, Michigan St.

– By conference, the projected field of 64 breaks down like this (* denotes conference champion):


Atlantic 10: Rhode Island*
Atlantic Coast: Florida St.*, North Carolina St., North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Clemson, Miami, Georgia Tech, Virginia
Atlantic Sun: South Carolina-Upstate*, Stetson
Big 10: Purdue*
Big 12: Baylor*, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas
Big East: St. John's, Louisville
Big South: Coastal Carolina*
Big West: Cal St. Fullerton*
Colonial: UNC-Wilmington*
C-USA: Rice*, Central Florida, East Catolina
Horizon: Wright St.*
Ivy League: Cornell*
Independent: Dallas Baptist
Metro Atlantic: Manhattan*
Mid-American: Kent St.*
MEAC: Delaware St.*
Missouri Valley: Missouri St.*, Indiana St.
Mountain West: New Mexico*, TCU
Northeast: Bryant*
Ohio Valley: Austin Peay St.*
Pac 12: Oregon*, Stanford, UCLA, Oregon St., Arizona, Southern California, Washington
Patriot: Army*
SEC: Kentucky*, LSU, South Carolina, Florida, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi St., Auburn
Southern: Appalachian St.*, College of Charleston 
Southland: Sam Houston St.*, Southeastern Louisiana
SWAC: Jackson St.*
Summit: Oral Roberts*
Sun Belt: Florida Atlantic*
West Coast: San Diego*, Pepperdine
WAC: New Mexico St.*



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