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One of the most incredible weeks of the sports year is about to be upon us as our sights get set on Omaha, Nebraska for the NCAA College World Series. This year brings high levels of anticipation — much like every year — but this one seems different, just based on the sheer amount of top-end talent we will see from all eight teams. For the first time in a while, the CWS might truly be hosting the best teams in the country based on expectations, talent level, and pre-season rankings. 

The eight teams enter Omaha with a combined record of 380-125 (.752), just an unheard-of level of season-long success. Three teams are in the top ten of Division I baseball in team batting average (Virginia [1], Oral Roberts [4], Stanford [9]), while four teams sit top ten in team earned run average (Wake Forest [1], Tennessee [2], Virginia [4], Oral Roberts [7]). 

Individually speaking, this may be the strongest crop of talent we have ever seen in Omaha. Ten potential first-round picks in the 2023 MLB draft, with six being projected in the top ten, will be on display this year. Every team has at least one star on their team but the excitement about this year is every team has a deep talent pool from top to bottom on the roster, hence why they have made it to the College World Series. 

LSU came into the year with arguably the most talent on their roster and have proven that to be the case throughout the season.  They are led by a star-studded duo in outfielder Dylan Crews and pitcher Paul Skenes who may go 1-2 in the draft. Last season’s internet sensation Tommy “Tanks” White transferred in from NC State and has racked up 97 RBIs to lead the team, second overall in the country. Entering the year it seemed this team was National Champion or bust. They now have a chance to cash in on their high expectations. Also, a fun fact I just came across on Twitter, Dylan Crews’ first collegiate home run came off of… Paul Skenes.

Rhett Lowder is a workhorse and ace for the Wake Forest Deamon Deacons. He and Skenes, by all accounts, are the best two pitchers we have seen in college baseball this year. Wake Forest entered the tournament as the #1 overall seed and quite literally have outperformed even the highest of expectations in the regionals and super regionals outscoring their opponents 75-16 in those five games. Yes, you did read that right, 75-16 while averaging 15 runs a game.

Virginia will be led by the nation’s top catcher in Kyle Teel who holds a .418 batting average. As stated earlier, they lead all of college baseball in team batting average at a remarkable .335 clip. Eight of the nine starters hold an average of .290 or higher.  They don’t solely rely on the long ball, like some of the other teams in the tournament, which might help them in the long run in Omaha. Charles Schwab Field tends to play a little bigger than most collegiate ballparks. 

Florida gives LSU a run for their money in having the most talented roster on paper. You can find star potential in both the lineup and on the mound; in the literal sense as well with two-way phenom Jac Caglianone, the nation’s home run leader with 31. The lineup also produces projected top-five pick Wyatt Langford who possesses all the traits you want in a baseball player. Josh Rivera is the best all-around shortstop in the game and you will most likely witness a few plays this coming week that will leave you in awe. Oh, and they also have one of the best 1-2 punches in starting pitching with Hurston Waldrep and Brandon Sproat who have combined for 262 strikeouts in 189 ⅓ innings pitched. 

Maybe Tennessee just needed the pressure to subside and creep out of the spotlight quickly. In that case, this year has fallen in their laps perfectly. A year after losing in the super regionals while being the odds-on favorite to win it all and quite clear #1 team, they make it back into postseason play with far eyes on them — which has turned out to be in their favor. The Vols lineup is still potent and has gotten hot at the right time. They still have flamethrowers on the mound with the Chase duo of Dollander and Burns. And they still have Tony Vitello behind the helm. Things might be shaking out perfectly in favor of the Tennessee Volunteers. 

There might not be a more hot team in the country than TCU who found their stride right in time. The Horned Frogs have gone 17-1 in their last 18 games and are currently riding an 11-game win streak. Unlike the other teams, they will not blow you away with talent, but they have quality depth in all phases that will benefit them. In their five tournament games so far, five players have at least seven RBIs while on the mound they have only used a max of three pitchers in each game. That’s quality output from both sides of the ball.

Oral Roberts becomes one of the few storied teams to make the College World Series as a #4 seed. The last since the 2012 Stony Brook Seawolves did so. But are they an underdog? Seeding-wise, yes, but as analysts have argued they never should have been a #4 to start. They entered the NCAA tournament on a 15-game win streak and boasted a 23-1 conference record. Oral Roberts also can be argued to hold the all-name team with the likes of Holden Breeze and Blaze Brothers. But jokes aside, this team is legit and is a serious contender, not just some feel-good story. They were battle-tested in hard-fought games in both the regionals and super regionals to get where they are now. 

Sometimes in baseball, you need to get a little lucky. And in the most unusual of ways the Stanford Cardinals found their way to Omaha thanks to the twilight sky in California and the rubber arm of Quinn Matthews. Nevertheless, it doesn’t matter how you get there just as long as you do, and that they did. This team can mash the baseball and relies on home runs and doubles as they enter with a team slugging percentage of .546. It will be interesting to see how that replicates to Charles Schwab Field. The Cardinals do not have the pitching like the other teams in this tournament so their offense will need to continue their dominance if they want any shot at winning. 

If there’s ever a year for a first-time fan to soak in what the College World Series is all about, this is it. This action-packed tournament will be ever-present during this 2023 joy ride. Sit back and enjoy the excitement that college sports bring. And if you’re lucky enough to be in attendance, have a few jello shots for me.