MCWS 2024: Prime storylines, daring predictions and picks for Omaha

The Males’s School World Collection begins Friday, and 7 of the eight spots have been stuffed by top-16 groups, the one outlier being Florida, the 2023 nationwide runner-up.

This yr’s discipline can be made up of solely SEC (No. 1 Tennessee, No. 2 Kentucky, No. 3 Texas A&M and Florida) and ACC (No. 4 North Carolina, No. 8 Florida State, No. 10 NC State and No. 12 Virginia) faculties. The sting is with the SEC because the convention has received the previous 4 MCWS titles.

However with a newcomer to the get together in Omaha, groups which have made loads of visits however by no means hoisted the trophy and others searching for redemption, there’s lots to observe on this yr’s event.

Our consultants break down this yr’s MCWS, the storylines and gamers they’re watching and provides their daring predictions of what to anticipate in Omaha over the subsequent week and a half.

Leap to:
Storylines | Gamers | Most to show
Daring predictions | Who’s profitable all of it?

1. What storylines are you most excited to see play out?

Ryan McGee: I’m fascinated by the unfinished enterprise side of this sequence. Florida and Virginia have received all of it earlier than. That is it. Florida State is the best program to by no means have dogpiled in Omaha. NC State, Tennessee, Texas A&M … all have lengthy been close to the highest of everybody’s “How has this place by no means been higher at baseball?” lists. UNC continues to be scarred by the heartbreak of 2006-07. Kentucky has by no means even been to Omaha earlier than. One thing’s gotta give, proper?

Kiley McDaniel: It is exhausting to disregard the portal/NIL period resulting in a top-heavy group of conventional powers with sources. That is in much more stark aid this yr because the MCWS is a showdown of half ACC and half SEC groups, with no Oral Roberts interloping like in 2023. The pool of groups that may get to Omaha could be getting a bit smaller, however the stage of competitors on the high of the game is getting increased, as extra good gamers find yourself at these faculties.

Mike Rooney: Can the ACC cease a streaking SEC? The ACC has lengthy been an excellent baseball convention. However this yr felt totally different. The groups on the high traded punches with the SEC throughout the common season. Florida State outscored Florida 45-15 in its three-game sweep of the Gators. Clemson swept rival South Carolina in two video games. Omaha is totally different, although. The SEC packages appear to discover a totally different gear in Nebraska. Therefore the 5 nationwide titles (by 5 totally different groups) up to now six accomplished seasons. This must be enjoyable.

Chris Burke: Can the No. 1 nationwide seed break the 24-year streak of not holding the trophy on the finish? Tennessee comes into the MCWS because the No. 1 total seed and is enjoying a model of ball that has seen it end the season profitable 9 straight SEC sequence, the SEC regular-season title, the SEC event title and going 5-1 by the event up to now. It is an offense that has the second-most homers within the historical past of school baseball in a park that tends to be residence run stingy. Can the Vols do it? Can be attention-grabbing to observe.

2. Which gamers are you preserving your eyes on?

McGee: The simple reply right here is Jac Caglianone and the 1-2 MLB draft punches — Christian Moore and James Tibbs — from Tennessee and FSU. And I used to be SO curious to see Texas A&M’s Braden Montgomery, an outfielder who was to be enjoying in Omaha for the third consecutive season, the primary two with Stanford, earlier than he broke his ankle in tremendous regionals. So, how about UNC’s Vance Honeycutt? That dude is aware of drama higher than most Hollywood writers. In supers, he hit a walk-off homer to beat West Virginia in Sport 1, then the subsequent pitch he noticed, practically a full day later, he hit it out, too!

McDaniel: Ryan Waldschmidt from Kentucky is hovering up boards into the center of the primary spherical, even increased than my final mock draft had him. Similar goes for Christian Moore at Tennessee. Each may proceed rising with performances on the large stage. Groups are nonetheless break up on Honeycutt, however his performances to shut the yr are possible additionally serving to him, and he may go the center of the primary spherical, as effectively.

Rooney: This could be getting within the weeds, however give me the North Carolina bullpen. There’s a sure intimidation to enjoying a staff with a shutdown bullpen. The opposing dugout feels strain to safe a lead within the first 5 innings or really feel the implications. And that is very true when it’s a group of arms just like the Tar Heels’ aid quartet. Dalton Pence, Ben Peterson, Matt Poston and Matthew Matthijs present skipper Scott Forbes with distinctive appears to be like and a quantity of playing cards to play. This group is proficient, and it’s examined. Might it’s UNC’s separator in Omaha?

Burke: Honeycutt. He is not ranked as the highest draft prospect in Omaha, however he is as proficient as any faculty participant within the sport. With elite velocity, explosive energy and game-changing protection, this dude is must-see TV. Additionally, he has been on a severe heater within the postseason! If he stays scorching, he is the kind of expertise who can carry the Tar Heels to the finals.

3. Who/what staff has probably the most to show in Omaha?

McGee: Tennessee has to show it could actually deal with this stage. After years of being OK with occasional flashes of brilliance, the Vols are actually ranked No.1 with regularity, however they at all times discover a method to not shut the deal. If Tony Vitiello can maintain their Large Orange feelings from getting in the best way, as they’ve earlier than, then they may win all of it and who is aware of what floodgates which may open within the years to come back.

McDaniel: Kentucky is the brand new child on the block and the SEC must win this coin flip with the ACC to proceed asserting that it is the greatest convention. If Tennessee wins, Vitiello might need probably the most leverage of any coach shortly as we head into foolish season.

Rooney: The Aggies have been lauded as one of the crucial proficient groups in faculty baseball in 2024. And right here they’re in Omaha. Nevertheless, they arrive with out the companies of just lately injured famous person proper fielder Montgomery. What number of groups can stand up to the lack of a top-10 choose? The Aggies may be down a weekend starter as left-hander Shane Sdao got here out of his tremendous regional begin with an obvious arm harm. Sdao had been sensible down the stretch. If any roster may overcome these losses, it is this one. However it will not be straightforward in opposition to this discipline.

Burke: Kentucky. Is it there to win it or is it simply comfortable to be there? Typically the enjoyment of arriving in Omaha, particularly for this system’s first time, can take your eyes off the purpose at hand. The Cats are constructed to supply offense on this atmosphere, however I am actually curious how they cope with this grand occasion of their first go-around.

4. What’s your daring prediction for this yr?

McGee: A staff from the South will win all of it! Simply kidding. We could have one of many two in-state showdowns within the championship sequence, both FSU vs. Florida or UNC vs. NC State … although which may simply be the sportswriter “please give me that superior story to write down!” in me.

McDaniel: Florida was an inconsistent staff this yr that began regionals as a 3-seed, however I’ve the Gators proper there with rivals Florida State and Tennessee because the well-balanced groups which are scorching on the proper time. With Florida alone in Bracket 2 whereas FSU and Tennessee are in Bracket 1, I’ve the Gators going to the MCWS finals.

Rooney: You need daring. Right here you go. On the worst hitters’ ballpark in all of school baseball (Charles Schwab Discipline), Caglianone will hit 4 residence runs and tie Charlie Condon of Georgia for the nationwide lead. Condon’s season led to supers, and he sits at 37 residence runs. “Cags” will want 4 bombs to catch him. That could be a massive ask. However Caglianone has gone on legendary heaters earlier than. His 2024 season contains each a 30-game hitting streak and a nine-game residence run streak. The latter is a university baseball document. “The Chuck Field” is a big park, nevertheless it’s not sufficiently big to carry this man.

Burke: That is the final time we see Caglianone pitch. All through his profession we’ve got in contrast Cags with Shohei Ohtani and dreamed in regards to the potential of the sport’s subsequent nice two-way star. Properly, as his profession has unfolded, the offense has utterly overshadowed the pitching to the purpose the place I believe this MCWS would be the final time we see Cags on the bump. What a run it has been, as he has been so good at each for thus lengthy, however it seems that his pitching days are numbered. So let’s take pleasure in our final take a look at one of many faculty sport’s best two-way skills.

5. Who’s your choose to win all of it?

McGee: In a discipline severely missing in “been there, finished that” it is exhausting to have a look at Florida, which pushed LSU to a 3rd sport in final yr’s championship sequence, and never assume that is going to be price one thing one yr later.

McDaniel: I believe whoever wins Bracket 1 between Tennessee and Florida State will win the title. I am going to lean Tennessee as a result of I believe it is simply too deep at a time of yr the place that is essential and it has Omaha expertise.

Rooney: The Vols lead the nation with an eye-popping 173 residence runs. The primary three hitters (Christian Moore, Blake Burke, Billy Amick) are the hardest stretch of any lineup in faculty baseball. However it’s greater than the ability … it is this system pedigree. The Vols are returning to Omaha for the third time in 4 seasons. The staff that missed the School World Collection (2022) received 57 video games earlier than shedding in Sport 3 of an excellent regional. Tennessee has earned the No. 1 total seed for the NCAA event in two of the previous three seasons. This program has been working on the high of the game for 4 years now. It is time for a crowning achievement.

Burke: So far the Vols have answered each problem introduced to them. I believe the simplest prediction is that they’ll proceed that in Omaha. In the event that they do, the bags of the No. 1 seed will probably be lastly gone! Sleeper choose … Virginia. Love the best way this staff performs offense, and after three journeys up to now 4 years, I might not be stunned if that is the Hoos’ time.