Image – University of North Carolina Athletics
The Men’s College World Series is finally here after four and a half months of baseball. Two first timers — West Virginia and Troy — join four returners including North Carolina, Ole Miss, Texas, Georgia and Alabama.
The Rebels, Longhorns, Bulldogs, and Crimson Tide make up half of the field in Omaha as the SEC attempts to win seven consecutive championships in a row. The Mountaineers, Trojans, and Tar Heels attempt to win their first ever national championship by winning it all in just two weeks.
No matter who advances in Omaha, it will be an exciting two weeks at Charles Schwab Field. Here are all eight teams that made it to the Men’s College World Series, my predictions for their opening matchups, and finally my picks for the rest of the event:
The Omaha 8
Image – West Virginia University Athletics
No. 16 seed West Virginia (45-15)
The Mountaineers are in Omaha for the Men’s College World Series for the first time in program history after sweeping Cal Poly in the Morgantown Super Regional.
WVU dominated the Mustangs by a combined score of 29-3 in the two games played. Because they didn’t have to face No. 1 overall seed UCLA, the test of Omaha may be that much more difficult for Steve Sabin’s team. Next up for West Virginia is a Troy Trojans team that is hitting the ball almost as well as the Mountaineers are right now.
In Friday’s opener, Sophomore right-hander Cole Chansen started on the mound for WVU and he impressed in seven innings with just eight hits, two runs, and struck out 11. Graduate outfielder Sean Smith went 3-for-4 with three runs, three runs batted in and one walk to lead the Mountaineer offense in their 12-2 game 1 victory.
In game 2, seven of nine members of the WVU lineup had two hits. Junior utility player Armani Guzman was 2-for-5 with two runs and three runs batted in while sophomore utility player Gavin Kelly went 3-for-4 with three runs and one run batted in.
The Mountaineers used four pitchers including redshirt junior left-hander Maxx Yehl, who went five innings and allowed just four hits, one run, one walk, and he struck out four. Sophomore right-hander David Hagen replaced Yehl and gave up only two hits, no runs, and struck out one in two innings of relief work. They defeated Cal Poly 17-1 in the Morgantown super regional decider that sent them to Omaha for the first time in program history.
West Virginia will matchup with Troy, the winner of the Troy Super Regional in their first Men’s College World Series opener.
Image – Montgomery Advertiser
Troy (38-30)
Troy won the battle of Trojans and swept former Sun Belt foe Little Rock in their own super regional to advance to the Men’s College World Series for the first time in program history.
The Trojans dominated Little Rock in their two games by a combined score of 19-4, similar to how they dealt with No. 8 national seed Florida in the Gainesville Regional the weekend prior. Skylar Meade has his team ready to compete in Omaha for the first time ever.
Troy had two players in their lineup with three hits and runs each in game 1 against Little Rock. Senior outfielder Steven Meier was 3-for-4 with three runs and senior utility player Drew Nelson was 3-for-4 with three runs and two runs batted in. Senior left-hander Benjamin Stubbs got the Trojans on a good start, allowing only six hits, two runs, and striking out five.
Troy allowed only two runs again in their game 2 win against Little Rock with senior right-hander Tommy Egan (7.1 innings pitched) and sophomore right-hander Noah Thigpen (1.2 innings pitched) allowing only seven hits combined. Senior infielder Aaron Piasecki, redshirt senior infielder Josh Pyne, sophomore catcher Jimmy Janicki, junior utility player Jabe Boroff and sophomore Houston Markham scored the runs that lifted the Trojans to their first appearance in Omaha.
An interesting matchup looms between two first timers in Omaha:
Carter’s Pick: No. 16 West Virginia 9, Troy 7
Image – LA Times
No. 5 seed North Carolina (50-12-1)
The Tar Heels came back from a game 1 loss to USC and advanced to Omaha for the second time in three seasons after a walk-off RBI double from junior outfielder Owen Hull in the bottom of the ninth inning.
After a 9-5 loss to the Trojans, the North Carolina pitching helped them win the next two games and reach Omaha for the ninth time since 2006. UNC shutout USC 4-0 in game 2 before the walk-off 4-3 victory against the Trojans in game 3. A lack of getting hits with runners in scoring position almost kept them from getting to the next round.
While the Trojans used six pitchers, Carolina’s junior right-hander Jason DeCaro pitched all nine innings of game 2 while only allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out eight. While much of the contact the Tar Heel offense was making resulted in fly outs, a few solo home runs made sure they would not bow out of the tournament in the super regionals.
In game 3, freshman right-hander Caden Glauber got off to a shaky start in the top of the first. USC gained a 1-0 lead before UNC tied the game in the bottom of the third inning on a Hull RBI double. USC retook the lead with a solo shot in the fourth before extending it to 3-1 with another hoe run in the fifth.
Despite giving up three runs, Glauber continued to pitch well, striking out 10 in seven innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Hull reached second base once again on a hit to left field with two outs. Junior catcher Macon Winslow doubled to deep center to bring Hull home, cutting the Trojan lead to just one. In the eighth, the Tar Heels got the USC lead to just one. Junior infielder Jake Schaffner hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Nicholson to even the score at 3-3. Junior infielder Gallaher walked in just five pitches to put two on base for Carolina. Hull, hit yet another double to score French from second to walk off the Chapel Hill Super Regional, 4-3.
Now, the Tar Heels prepare for an Omaha opener against the red hot Ole Miss Rebels, who can hit with anybody in the country but struggle when they have to use a lot of pitching.
Image – Southeastern Conference
Ole Miss (41-21)
The Rebels are back in Omaha for the first time since they won their first and only national championship in 2022 after sweeping No. 4 national seed Auburn on the road at Plainsman Park.
Ole Miss got two, two-run victories against their SEC rivals and put the Tigers out in their home super regional for the second consecutive season. Mike Bianco’s club has done a little bit of everything on their road to Omaha, playing solid defense and scoring enough runs to win all five of their postseason games since losing their SEC Tournament opener against Missouri in Hoover.
In the Rebels’ 6-4 game 1 victory against the Tigers, redshirt junior ace Hunter Elliott threw 4.1 innings of six-hit, two run, and four walk baseball while striking out only two. As a result, junior right-hander Hudson Calhoun and sophomore left-hander Walker Hooks came in relief and closed out the last 4.2 innings, giving up only three hits, two runs, one walk and five strikeouts combined. Four Ole Miss batters had two hits, including junior third baseman Judd Utermark’s home run that lifted the Rebels to a game 1 victory.
Sophomore right-hander Taylor Rabe started out on the mound for Ole Miss, only allowing six hits, two runs, one walk, and striking out eight. After an inning of relief work by redshirt sophomore right-hander JP Robertson (that earned him his fifth win of the season), Hooks closed the deal again for the Rebels, allowing just one hit, one run, and striking out one to help his team get back to Omaha. Junior infielder Brayden Randle started the sixth inning with a single before junior infielder Dom Decker reached after getting hit by a pitch. Utermark delivered a two-run double to right field, again lifting the Rebels to a win against the Tigers.
A year after Decker and Murray State swept Ole Miss in the 2025 Oxford Regional, Decker and Ole Miss are back in Omaha for the first time in four years. They will matchup with No. 5 national seed North Carolina/USC in their Men’s College World Series opener.
In what should be a back and forth game, Ole Miss will take advantage of North Carolina’s lack of offense with runners in scoring position and advance to the winner’s bracket.
Carter’s Pick: Ole Miss 7, No. 5 North Carolina 5
Image – Yahoo Sports
No. 6 seed Texas (45-13)
In a highly-anticipated series in the Austin Super Regional against No. 11 seed Oregon, the Longhorns swept the Ducks.
Texas dominated Oregon 11-3 in game 1 before a late comeback lifted the Longhorns to a 6-5 victory in game 2 against the Ducks. The bats were hot in and there was more than enough pitching to lift the Austin boys to their 39th appearance in the Men’s College World Series and their first since 2022.
Texas’ ace, sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis, allowed only eight hits, two runs, four walks, and struck out 10 in the Longhorns’ game 1 victory. Junior third baseman Casey Borba and junior designated hitter Ethan Mendoza were the two Longhorns homered and helped lift them to a game 1 win.
Sunday’s game 2 was a lot closer with Texas having to pit a late comeback in the eighth inning to retake the lead and win the Austin Super Regional. Sophomore shortstop Adrian Rodriguez hit a go-ahead two-run double, scoring freshman left fielder Anthony Pack Jr. and junior catcher Carson Tinney. Junior arm Thomas Burns and freshman Sam Cozart were the last two pitchers to come in for the Longhorns, shutting the Ducks’ offense down and striking out six combined.
The next task is dealing with a No. 3 national seed Georgia team that has the best bats in the country and maybe the sport’s top player, catcher Daniel Jackson. The two SEC foes have not faced off this season, adding to the excitement for what could be a battle between the winner of the national championship in just two short weeks.
Image – Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No. 3 seed Georgia (51-12)
In the most exciting super regional series of 2026, Georgia took down No. 14 seed Mississippi State and swept the battle of the bulldogs. UGA took down MSU 14-13 in game 1 and 11-9 in 10 innings in game 2.
After falling down 7-0 early against Mississippi State in game 1, Georgia scored nine runs in a row and got the win 13-12. UGA won a back-and-forth affair in game 2 on a home run by junior catcher Daniel Jackson in the top of the 10th inning.
In a game that included 11 home runs, Georgia did not any consistent pitching in the Athens Super Regional opener. After falling behind 7-0, three home runs and a double got the scoring going for the Bulldogs in the fourth and fifth innings and the score was quickly tied.
It was a back-and-forth affair from there until a second home run by senior Michael OShaughnessy in the eighth inning lifted UGA to the game 1 win. OShaughnessy replaced star junior Tre Phelps at third base while he was serving a suspension and he went 2-for-5 with two runs and five runs batted in.
In game 2, Georgia got a better start from their pitcher Caden Aoki, a graduate right-hander who threw 121 pitches over 5.2 innings and only allowed eight hits, four runs, a walk and struck out nine against an impressive MSU offense. UGA led the game 4-0 before a MSU home run cut the deficit to 4-2. OShaughnessy and Phelps responded with RBIs in the fourth and fifth inning respectively to grow the lead to 7-2 entering the sixth inning.
The sixth, seventh, and eighth innings continued to be an offensive battle with MSU hitting three home runs in a row in the seventh inning and another in the eighth inning. Entering the ninth, Georgia needed a run to send it to extras and they got an RBI single from senior Brennan Hudson to score sophomore Kenny Ishikawa.
Redshirt junior right-hander Justin Byrd was the only pitcher to not allow a run in his outing and in the ninth and tenth innings all he gave up was two walks and he struck out two. Byrd’s outing set up Jackson’s game-winning two-run blast to left field.
If the Bulldogs can get more production out of their pitching staff and a bigger ballpark like the one in Omaha and continue to get offensive production similar to what they have been getting throughout the postseason, they should beat SEC foe Texas. But that will be tougher and the Longhorns’ strong pitching staff and big bats of their own
Carter’s Pick: No. 6 Texas 10, No. 3 Georgia 9
Image – The Tuscaloosa News
No. 7 seed Alabama (42-19)
The Crimson Tide swept St. John’s behind a 15-2 run advantage and will make their way back to Omaha for the first time since 1999.
The Alabama defense shut down the Red Storm offense 8-0 in game 1 and 7-2 in game 2. The Crimson Tide’s pitching staff was fantastic and they made very few mistakes in the infield and the outfield. They are back in the Men’s College World Series for just the sixth time in program history.
Redshirt junior right-hander Tyler Fay delivered another fantastic performance as Alabama’s ace in game 1 versus St. John’s, throwing 113 pitches over 7.1 innings. He allowed only five runners on base and struck out nine. Three two-run doubles, one by graduate second baseman Holt in the second inning, one by redshirt senior center fielder Fowler in the fourth, and one from junior shortstop Justin LeBron in the eighth inning helped the Crimson Tide win on Saturday.
Entering the sixth inning of game 2, Alabama led the Red Storm 3-1. SJU’s Adam Agresti hit a solo shot to cut the Crimson Tide lead to one, 3-2. Senior third baseman Jason Torres answered in the seventh inning with a grand slam to right field, extending their lead to five runs; 7-2.
Alabama will get ready to get another win over Oklahoma, a team they have already beaten in an SEC series back to begin the month of April two games to one.
Image – The Topeka Capital-Journal
Oklahoma (38-22)
The Sooners took down No. 15 seed Kansas and swept the Jayhawks by a combined score of 21-4 between game 1 and game 2.
The Oklahoma pitching staff excelled and home runs were blasted across both games, helping the Sooners defeat Kansas 8-1 in game 1 and 13-2 in game 2. They are returning to Omaha for the first time since 2022, when they fell to Ole Miss in the Men’s College World Series Finals, where they were swept.
Oklahoma scored eight consecutive runs in game across the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings. All three of senior first baseman Dayton Tockey, junior third baseman Camden Johnson, and senior designated hitter Trey Gambill hit home runs. Freshman left-hander Cord Rager (6.0 innings pitched, one hit, zero runs, one walk, and six strikeouts) and junior right-hander LJ Mercerius (3.0 innings pitched, three hits, one run run, and three strikeouts) propelled the Sooners to their first of two victories against their old Big 12 rival.
Oklahoma dominated the Jayhawks again in game 2, scoring in the first, second, third, sixth and eighth innings. Four Sooners homered, including Tockey to right center in the third, junior catcher Deiten Lachance to left field and junior right fielder Dasan Harris to right center in the sixth and Gambill again to right field in the eighth inning. Freshman right-hander Xander Mercerius, redshirt junior left-hander Nate Smithburg, junior right-hander Jason Brodin and senior right-hander Jackson Cleveland held it down on the mound for the Sooners, helping them clinch the Lawrence Super Regional.
OU is back in Omaha for the first time in four seasons and Skip Johnson wants to win a national championship this time. Johnson’s offense is red hot and his pitching is giving them what they have needed to advance.
Now, the Sooners will attempt to avenge their regular season series loss to Alabama and this time, they should get things going in Omaha with a victory over the Crimson Tide.
Carter’s Pick: Oklahoma 11, No. 7 Alabama 8
Projecting the rest of the Men’s College World Series:
Bracket 1
Friday June 12
Game 1: No. 16 West Virginia vs. Troy; 1 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 16 West Virginia 9, Troy 7
Game 2: No. 5 North Carolina vs. Ole Miss; 6 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: Ole Miss 7, No. 5 North Carolina 5
Sunday June 14
Game 5: Troy vs. No. 5 North Carolina; 1 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 5 North Carolina 8, Troy 7
Game 6: No. 16 West Virginia vs. Ole Miss; 6 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: Ole Miss 10, No. 16 West Virginia 8
Tuesday June 16
Game 9: No. 5 North Carolina vs. No. 16 West Virginia; 1 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 5 North Carolina 9, No. 16 West Virginia 6
Wednesday June 17:
Game 11: Ole Miss vs. No. 5 North Carolina; 1 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 5 North Carolina 11, Ole Miss 10
Thursday June 18:
Game 13: No. 5 North Carolina vs. Ole Miss; TBD
Carter’s Pick: Ole Miss 10, No. 5 North Carolina 7
Bracket 2
Saturday June 13
Game 3: No. 7 Alabama vs. Oklahoma; 2 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: Oklahoma 11, No. 7 Alabama 8
Game 4: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Texas; 7 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 6 Texas 10, No. 3 Georgia 9
Monday June 15
Game 7: No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 3 Georgia; 1 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 3 Georgia 12, Alabama 8
Game 8: Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Texas; 6 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 6 Texas 10, Oklahoma 9
Tuesday June 16
Game 10: No. 3 Georgia vs. Oklahoma; 7 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 3 Georgia 9, Oklahoma 6
Wednesday June 17
Game 12: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 3 Georgia; 6 p.m. on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 3 Georgia 14, No. 6 Texas 8
Thursday June 18:
Game 14: No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 6 Texas; TBD
Carter’s Pick: No. 3 Georgia 12, No. 6 Texas 11
Championship series
Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner
Game 1: No. 3 Georgia vs. Ole Miss; 8 p.m. Saturday, June 20 on ESPN
Carter’s Pick: No. 3 Georgia 10, Ole Miss 8
Game 2: No. 3 Georgia vs. Ole Miss; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 21 on ABC
Carter’s Pick: No. 3 Georgia 15, Ole Miss 12
Projected National Champion: No. 3 Georgia
For more news, analysis, and coverage, visit https://carterbhuffsports.com, follow @cbhsports_ on X and Instagram, and subscribe to cbhsports on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@cbhsports_.
