OMAHA, Neb. — Tennessee baseball is making its seventh appearance in the Men’s College World Series and its third in the last four years, following their victory over Evansville in the Knoxville Super Regional last weekend.
Tennessee and Virginia, whom UT might face on Sunday, are the only two teams to advance to three of the last four College World Series. Notably, UT is the sole SEC team to achieve this and is making back-to-back appearances in the CWS for the first time in program history.
The Vols will start their quest for their first national championship against Florida State on Friday night, with the game scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The broadcast team includes Mike Monaco (play-by-play), former Stanford pitcher Kyle Peterson (analyst), former Tennessee infielder Chris Burke (analyst), and Kris Budden (reporter).
North Carolina and Virginia are on the same side of the bracket as Tennessee and Florida State. The Tar Heels and Cavaliers will play each other earlier in the day at 2 p.m. on ESPN. The winners of these games will meet in the winner’s bracket on Sunday, June 16, at 6 p.m. on ESPN2, while the losers will face off in an elimination game on Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
Florida, Kentucky, Texas A&M, and NC State comprise the other side of the bracket in the eight-team field. Here’s a look at who various college baseball experts predict will win the national championship.
D1Baseball.com Staff Picks
Kendall Rogers: Tennessee
Aaron Fitt: Florida State: Texas A&M
Joe Healy: Kentucky
Mark Ethridge: Kentucky
Burke Granger: Tennessee
Patrick Ebert: Tennessee
Shotgun Spratling: Texas A&M
Pat James: Tennessee
Eric Sorenson: Texas A&M
Baseball America Staff Picks
Teddy Cahill: “Florida. The Gators have been impressive in the NCAA Tournament, have Omaha experience, and feature the best player in the field, Jac Caglianone. They have shown they can beat top competition and now look consistent enough to handle the big stage.”
Peter Flaherty: “Tennessee. Though it might be the predictable pick, no other team matches the Volunteers’ depth on both sides of the ball. Tennessee has succeeded against other CWS teams and has been to the CWS three times in four seasons. This feels like their year.”
ESPN Predictions
Ryan McGee: “With a field lacking experience, Florida, which pushed LSU to a third game in last year’s championship series, seems poised for a strong run.”
Kiley McDaniel: “I believe the title will go to whoever wins Bracket 1 between Tennessee and Florida State. I lean toward Tennessee because of their depth and Omaha experience.”
Mike Rooney: “The Vols lead the nation with 173 home runs and have a powerful lineup. Beyond their offensive power, their consistent high performance over the past four years suggests they’re ready for a crowning achievement.”
– Chris Burke: “The Vols have met every challenge so far, and I predict they’ll continue this in Omaha. Virginia is my sleeper pick due to their strong offense and consistent CWS appearances, making them potential contenders this year.”
