NCAA Baseball Event: Cinderella groups to observe as 2025 School World Collection quest begins

No different sport lends itself to “Cinderella” story like baseball. The sport is just too chaotic, and too unpredictable, which signifies that any given staff can win any given recreation on any given day. 

Nowhere is that this fact extra obvious than within the NCAA Event, the place sudden underdogs go away a giant impression each single 12 months. In reality, Tennessee turned simply the second No. 1 general seed, and first since 1999, to win the School World Collection final season. That’s how arduous it’s for a staff that’s anticipated to win all of it, to truly win all of it. 

School baseball is usually the other of chalk. Final season, Evansville got here out of completely nowhere to make its first tremendous regional look in program historical past, the place it took one recreation in opposition to that nationwide title-winning Vols squad. In 2022, Ole Miss went from the final staff within the subject of 64 to a nationwide title. 9 years in the past, Coastal Carolina rode a miracle run to a triumph in opposition to Arizona within the School World Collection finals. 

There’s at all times one staff that vastly exceeds expectations as soon as the event rolls round. Within the spirit of the underdog, and with the beginning of the event simply sooner or later away, it felt acceptable to take a stab at figuring out one potential “Cinderella” staff from every of the 16 regionals. 

For this text’s functions, a “Cinderella” is outlined as any staff that’s not internet hosting and has nationwide title odds worse than +3500. All odds through FanDuel Sportsbook. 

Nashville Regional 

Cinderella: Louisville | Nationwide title odds: +10000

Louisville’s pitching would possibly get it into some bother — the Cardinals have a staff ERA of 5.72, which ranks close to the underside amongst groups to qualify for the event — however the it does have the bats to maintain up. Heart fielder Lucas Moore is slashing .373/.470/.498 and has 46 stolen bases on the 12 months. Freshman first baseman Tague Davis brings loads of energy with 18 house runs on the 12 months, and all however two of Louisville’s constant starters have a batting common of a minimum of .300. Louisville might have a tricky time placing runs on the board in opposition to a tricky defensive staff in Vanderbilt, however it could hit nicely sufficient to beat any staff within the subject. 

Austin Regional 

Cinderella: UTSA | Nationwide title odds: +20000 

UTSA, which received a school-record 44 video games and the American Athletic Convention common season crown, is enjoying as an at-large staff within the NCAA Event for the primary time in program historical past. The Roadrunners additionally boasted an RPI of 25 on Choice Monday due to a formidable résumé that features midweek wins in opposition to Texas A&M and regional host Texas. UTSA boasts a potent offense that ranks top-20 nationally in batting common (.318 — the one AAC staff with a batting common above .300), hits (615), on-base share (.429) and runs scored (502). 

Fayetteville Regional 

Cinderella: Kansas | Nationwide title odds: +20000 

Kansas has a “Team of Destiny” kind of vibe. After a stable Jayhawks squad was omitted of the 2024 event, they made themselves simple this season by profitable a program-record 43 video games. Kansas additionally had one of the best common season win share in a Huge 12 Convention that produced eight event groups. KU is likely one of the finest power-hitting groups within the nation with a whopping 100 house runs on the 12 months, which leads the Huge 12, and 6 batters in its lineup have hit a minimum of 9 lengthy balls. It’s going to be actually arduous to get out of Fayetteville, however Kansas is nicely value keeping track of. 

Auburn Regional 

Cinderella: NC State | Nationwide title odds: +7500

Relating to NC State as an underdog is admittedly bizarre — the Wolfpack have been to 2 School World Collection up to now 4 seasons — however a poor near the 12 months noticed it tumble from the nationwide seed dialog all the way in which out of internet hosting a regional. That is nonetheless a harmful staff that simply must regain its stride. This is similar NC State, in any case, that swept Clemson in April and took two video games in opposition to Louisville in convention play. 

Chapel Hill Regional 

Cinderella: Oklahoma | Nationwide title odds: +9500 

Oklahoma hasn’t made it out of a regional since 2022, when it made a run all the way in which to the School World Collection finals. The Sooners are going to have a tricky time breaking that streak this 12 months — particularly in a area that features 5-seed North Carolina and Huge Ten Event champion Nebraska — however they do boast a sequence win in opposition to high general seed Vanderbilt and so they have the pitching to stun some groups. Starter Kyson Witherspoon is electrical. He’s pitched 91 innings to a 2.47 ERA and touts a whopping 11.9 strikeouts per 9 innings. 

Baton Rouge Regional 

Cinderella: Dallas Baptist | Nationwide title odds: +4000 

School baseball followers are accustomed to Dallas Baptist. The Patriots have been an NCAA Event mainstay over the previous decade and so they constantly rank as one of many high mid-major applications within the nation. That being mentioned, they’ve made it previous the regional spherical simply twice since 2011, and so they have by no means gone to the School World Collection. Having to doubtlessly play LSU in Alex Field Stadium is a tricky draw, however DBU’s offense is able to giving a powerful Tigers pitching employees some suits. The Patriots have hit 97 house runs and rank twenty first nationally with 482 runs scored for a per recreation common of 8.6. 

Athens Regional 

Cinderella: Oklahoma State | Nationwide title odds: +16000

Oklahoma State narrowly made the sphere after salvaging its season with three straight sequence victories and a much-needed Huge 12 Event win in opposition to Baylor. Misplaced amid the Cowboys’ struggles is the truth that they’ve a high quality pitching employees — one they should lean on within the postseason, given their offense’s inconsistency. Harrison Bodendorf, the 2025 Huge 12 Co-Newcomer of the 12 months, is a lefty with a bizarre supply that can provide opposing hitters suits. He’s 10-1 in his 15 begins with a 2.77 ERA. Relying on when he begins this weekend, he could possibly be what Oklahoma State must tip a pivotal recreation in its favor. 

Corvallis Regional 

Cinderella: TCU | Nationwide title odds: +3900 

TCU is a “Cinderella” within the sense that it didn’t get to host — although many suppose the Horned Frogs needs to be enjoying at house — and since its nationwide title odds are outdoors the highest 10. TCU is certainly one of simply two Huge 12 groups to rank high three within the convention in batting common (.300) and ERA (4.24, finest within the Huge 12). The Horned Frogs’ one via six hitters all have a batting common of a minimum of .320. They don’t hit a ton of house runs (66 on the 12 months) however they do have a .478 slugging share and 29 triples. They’re going to be a tricky out at any stage of the event. 

Tallahassee Regional 

Cinderella: Northeastern | Nationwide title odds: +5000 

Northeastern could be the worst-kept secret in baseball at this level. Its nationwide title odds have ballooned up to now few days as an increasing number of bettors catch on to the Huskies. They’re the one staff within the nation with a sub-3.00 ERA. The beginning trio of Will Jones, Jordan Gottesman and Aiven Cabral have surrendered a mixed 60 earned runs on the 12 months. They’ve additionally crushed Kansas State, an NCAA Event staff, twice, UConn, a staff that simply missed out on the NCAA Event, twice and so they cut up a pair of video games in opposition to Boston School. Imagine the hype. 

Oxford Regional 

Cinderella: Western Kentucky | Nationwide title odds: +20000 

If you happen to like offense, the Oxford Regional will likely be appointment viewing. The Hilltoppers are positively bringing the bats to Mississippi. They led Convention USA with a .315 batting common to go along with 468 complete runs and a staff OPS of .927. However they’re not simply an offensive staff. They’ve acquired one of the best ERA of groups within the Oxford Regional, led by Jack Bennett, who has allowed lower than three earned runs in 5 of his final six begins. 

Clemson Regional 

Cinderella: West Virginia | Nationwide title odds: +10000

West Virginia set program information with 41 complete wins and 19 convention wins whereas capturing the Huge 12 common season title. The Mountaineers have a potent one-two punch close to the highest of their batting order in Kyle West, who has a 1.129 OPS with a team-high 10 house runs, and Sam White, who’s hitting at a .353 clip. West Virginia’s 4.28 staff ERA additionally ranks twenty first nationally, so this can be a very well-rounded staff that’s a critical risk to get to the supers. 

Eugene Regional 

Cinderella: Arizona | Nationwide title odds: +6500 

Arizona is scorching-hot when it issues most. The Wildcats swept the Huge 12 Event and haven’t allowed multiple run in every of their final 4 video games. They’ve additionally misplaced only one sequence for the reason that begin of Could and so they’re 6-1 of their previous seven contests with a median margin of victory of 5.2 runs. Momentum issues in baseball, and Arizona has it in spades. 

Conway Regional 

Cinderella: East Carolina | Nationwide title odds: +16000 

I used to be tempted to select Florida, however that appears to go in opposition to the spirit of a “Cinderella” staff, provided that the Gators have the Twelfth-best nationwide title odds and are seventeenth in RPI. In order that leaves East Carolina, a staff that regional host Coastal Carolina may be very accustomed to, because the logical choose. Although the Pirates, contemporary off an AAC Event win, are going to have a tricky time beating Florida, and so they’ve already dropped a sequence to Coastal this 12 months, however pitcher Ethan Norby — who had 19 strikeouts in 7.1 innings in opposition to Coastal Carolina on March 7 — offers ECU an opportunity in opposition to most groups. 

Knoxville Regional 

Cinderella: Cincinnati | Nationwide title odds: +20000 

Wake Forest looks like an apparent choose right here given its fashionable success, however Cincinnati would possibly truly be a more durable matchup for regional host Tennessee for one cause: the Bearcats have stolen 128 bases this 12 months, third-most amongst NCAA Event groups. The Vols have been fairly unhealthy defensively all season lengthy, particularly in opposition to groups that wreak havoc on the bottom paths. Cincinnati additionally touts the Huge 12 Participant of the 12 months in Kerrington Cross, who carries a .399 batting common with 12 house runs into the event. Cincinnati may have the inexperienced gentle anytime it will get on base in Knoxville. That could possibly be what’s wanted to hold it to an upset, offered it will get to Tennessee. 

Los Angeles Regional 

Cinderella: UC Irvine | Nationwide title odds: +10000 

UC Irvine cut up two video games in opposition to USC, received a sequence in opposition to Texas Tech, swept Cal Poly within the common season and beat Los Angeles Regional host UCLA in a midweek contest. That’s a really robust résumé for a staff out of the Huge West. The Anteaters have three batters with an OPS above 1.000 and a stable bullpen with standouts like Ricky Ojeda and Max Martin retaining issues below management. 

Hattiesburg Regional 

Cinderella: Alabama | Nationwide title odds: +7500 

Little ole Alabama. All of the Crimson Tide did was amass a mixed 20 Quad 1 and Quad 2 wins whereas ending with an RPI of 13, the very best amongst non-regional hosts within the NCAA Event. The highest of their batting order, anchored by studs like Kade Snell, Justin Lebron and Richie Bonomolo Jr., might go toe-to-toe with any within the nation and so they’ve acquired a strong pitching employees. Riley Fast, particularly, is a reputation that’s rocketing up draft boards as June approaches. The 6-foot-6 righty is 7-2 as a starter and he punched out 9 batters in a Could 3 win in opposition to Vanderbilt.