20 National Championships

[YeaTexasFight]

The 8 teams on display over the next couple of weeks in Omaha will represent 20 NCAA Division 1 National Championships, including winners of half of the National Championships this decade (LSU 2000, Texas 2002 & 2005, Cal St. Fullerton 2004, and the 2009 Champion). Quite a stacked field.

The Texas side of the bracket includes 11 National Championships while the other side includes 9. Each side has a first-timer to the CWS (Southern Miss and Virginia) and each side includes a team who has been able to get to Omaha somewhat regularly but has not been able to get over the hump (North Carolina 8 appearances, Arkansas 6 appearances)

National Championships:
Texas 6 (most recent 2005)
Arizona St. 5 (most recent 1981)
LSU 5 (most recent 2000)
Cal St. Fullerton 4 (most recent 2004)

Number of Appearances:
Texas: 33
Arizona St.: 21
North Carolina: 8
Southern Miss: 1

Cal St. Fullerton: 16
LSU: 15
Arkansas: 6
Virginia: 1

 

[GemStateJim]

Some LSU guys were talking yesterday that Texas' bracket would be the weaker of the two, but I don't see it that way. They strike me as remarkably similar:

Each has an unseeded darkhorse (Southern Miss and Arkansas) that finished .500 or worse in its conference but played over its head to reach Omaha

Each has a team (Texas and Virginia) that dominates with pitching and defense and that needed three Super Regional games to advance

And each has a pair of heavyweights (Arizona State and North Carolina; Cal State Fullerton and LSU) with balanced rosters (team ERAs of 3.6 or less and team BAs of .305 or higher) that cakewalked through the regionals and super regionals.

Should be a very competitive Series.

 

[blonthang]

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[tejas77]

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[rblancarte]

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[tholly]

SEC guys (LSU) are always going to overvalue another SEC team (Ark). One side has the #1, #4, #5, and SMiss (apprx #40) . The other side has a #2, #3, Vir (apprx #18), and Ark (apprx #22). Verbalize your homerism, crunch numbers, stay up all night analyzing it. The toughest team is the one you have to play. We know we can only play one of LSU/Full, LSU can only play one of TEX/NC/Ariz St . Either way its tougher to get out of your own bracket....

 

[borna_horn]

It is amazing that LSU has cashed in on 5 of their 14 trips to Omaha, while Texas has won only 6 times in 32 trips. Probably only USC has a better championship ratio.

 

[cochamps]

The amazing roid era of baseball.