Baseball Regional Projections

We are halfway through the college baseball season and there are already a couple websites with College Baseball Regional projections. I can go ahead and say that South Carolina is not getting much love in the three early projections that I have seen. I am going to compare, complain and evaluate the Baseball America Projection and The College Baseball Blog. I read both websites a good bit and respect their outlook on rankings and regional projections.

Let’s dive right into Baseball America’s forecast, projected national seeds are-

1. Arizona State
2. Virginia
3. LSU
4. Texas
5. GT
6. Florida
7. UCLA
8. Louisville

Compared to The College Baseball Blogs projected national seeds-

1. UCLA
2. Alabama
3. Arizona State
4. Clemson
5. FSU
6. Florida
7. Virginia
8. Oregon State

I am guessing both websites believe that USC will falter down the stretch and allow Florida to win the SEC East.  Baseball America has USC as a #2 seed in the Clemson Regional and The College Baseball Blog has USC as a #3 seed in the College of Charleston regional. I know the State of South Carolina isn’t large enough to host 3 regional’s sites, but there is a lot of good baseball being played in the state right. With Clemson, USC, College of Charleston, The Citadel and Coastal Carolina all looking to host regional’s this season. The College Baseball Blog goes as far as to have 4 South Carolina schools hosting regional’s, C of C, The Citadel, Clemson and Coastal Carolina. I find this a little bit of a stretch. I have a feeling this is solely based on RPI rankings. Another thing, no way on earth CU and SC are put in a regional together.

The college baseball blog also has Alabama winning the SEC, which I find a little hard to believe. Especially since Bama has jumped out to a record setting 4-5 conference record through the first 3 weeks of the season. Plus Alabama still has to play Florida, USC, LSU and Ole Miss, which are all ranked in the top 25 in most polls. I must be missing something on Alabama?

Baseball America only has 2 South Carolina schools hosting regional’s, Clemson and Coastal Carolina. This is a little more believable. My biggest concern with their projection is all the love for the ACC. I am not sure if the ACC is deserving of 4 regional host sites. I can see at a max the ACC having three host sites, Virginia, Clemson and Georgia Tech.

Overall these are just projections, but they are still fun to look at and criticize.  USC the way they are playing in my mind will be in the hunt for a regional in about a month.  I am hoping for a national seed but would be satisfied for being named a host.