CWS 2016: NCAA Baseball Schedule, Live-Stream Details, Format and More

Eight of 64 teams have survived regionals and Super Regionals to earn a spot in the 2016 College World Series. 

The SEC and ACC entered most of the NCAA tournament's favorites, but only one school from each conference made it to Omaha, Nebraska. Instead, three squads represent the Big 12, the only conference with more than one remaining participant.

Supporters of parity will appreciate the final field, which features three national seeds and five programs in search of their first national championship. More madness could ensue, or the top contenders could capitalize on the watered-down competition.

After a long layover from a chaotic earlier round, the final stage will commence Saturday. Here's a look at the full schedule along with a preview of the format and favorites to win it all.

Game	Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV
1	June 18	UC Santa Barbara vs. Oklahoma State	3 p.m.	ESPN2
2	June 18	Miami (Fla.) vs. Arizona	8 p.m.	ESPN2
3	June 19	Texas Tech vs. TCU	3 p.m.	ESPNU
4	June 19	Florida vs. Coastal Carolina	8 p.m.	ESPN2
5	June 20	Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2	2 p.m.	ESPNU
6	June 20	Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2	7 p.m.	ESPN
7	June 21	Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4	5 p.m.	ESPN2
8	June 21	Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4	9 p.m.	ESPN
9	June 22	Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6	7 p.m.	ESPN
10	June 23	Winner Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8	8 p.m.	ESPN2
11	June 24	Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 9	3 p.m.	ESPN2
12	June 24	Winner Game 8 vs. Winner Game 10	8 p.m.	ESPN
13*	June 25	Loser of Game 11 (if first loss) vs. Winner of Game 11	TBD	TBD
14*	June 25	Loser of Game 12 (if first loss) vs. Winner of Game 12	TBD	TBD
15	June 27	Finals Game 1	7 p.m.	ESPN
16	June 28	Finals Game 2	8 p.m.	ESPN
17	June 29	Finals Game 3	8 p.m.	ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Format

The eight teams are divided into two brackets; from each, one winner will emerge through a double-elimination tournament akin to regional play.

Bracket 1	Bracket 2
No. 3 Miami (Fla.)	No. 1 Florida
UC Santa Barbara	No. 6 Texas Tech
Oklahoma State	TCU
Arizona	Coastal Carolina

Those two teams will then compete for the championship in a best-of-three series beginning on June 27. Even if one of the participants accrued a loss en route to the finals, the slate is wiped clean.

Only Oklahoma State and UC Santa Barbara made it to Omaha without suffering a loss. Texas Tech is the lone team that has lost twice, falling once in the regionals and again in a best-of-three Super Regionals triumph over East Carolina.

Favorites

Florida

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

The best team on paper, the top-seed Florida Gators have the potent bats and arms to overpower the competition.

Led by the triumphant return of first baseman Peter Alonso, they circumnavigated the regionals by scoring 25 runs through three games. Before getting drafted by the New York Mets, the junior went 8-of-14 with three homers during the opening stage.

They then endured their first roadblock, losing 3-0 against Florida State to open the Super Regionals. Their offense woke up to score a dozen runs, but their pitching stole the show with two straight shutouts.

Logan Shore led the way by tossing eight scoreless innings in the second contest, lowering his season ERA to 2.24. Per ESPN.com's Derek Tyson, the ace praised a loaded rotation that includes Dane Dunning and No. 6 MLB draft pick A.J. Puk:

"

The depth of our staff is really good, and it showed this weekend against FSU. We lose the first [game] and we have more than enough arms to shutout FSU twice in a row. Is a great feeling knowing we have so many arms that can get the job done. We are ready to get back to Omaha and finish the job that we came so close to achieving last year.

"

Florida's pitchers have collectively struck out 9.8 batters per nine innings while sporting a 2.98 ERA, but it faces a stout challenge in the power-driven Coastal Carolina on Sunday. A prolific staff makes Florida the team to beat one year after barely missing the championship.

Miami (Fla.)

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

If the inner-state rivals meet in the championship, Miami can counter Florida's aces with an offense sporting a .300 batting average and .402 on-base percentage. Fueled by No. 10 pick Zack Collins, the Hurricanes have registered 41 runs in six tournament games.

After the Gators dashed their title hopes in Omaha last year, the Hurricanes won't settle for falling short in another deep run.

“We won’t be happy unless we bring home a ring,” head coach Jim Morris told the Miami Herald's Greg Cote following their second Super Regional win over Boston College.

Miami has lived dangerously this postseason, earning three one-run victories and another two-run triumph. Its defense leads the NCAA in fielding percentage, but the pitching staff has labored aside from Michael Mediavilla.

UC Santa Barbara has also constantly walked a tightrope, but the Gauchos aren't a national powerhouse deserving some benefit of the doubt. Arizona will pay the consequences for overworking ace Nathan Bannister.

The Hurricanes would make a safe pick to win their bracket if not for one looming threat.

Oklahoma State

Sean Rayford/Associated Press

No team is hotter than Oklahoma State, which has won all five games by a cumulative 35-6 margin. 

A lineup with a .401 slugging percentage will struggle to keep hitting so well, but superb pitching makes the Cowboys a legitimate championship contender. They haven't allowed more than two runs in a single game this tournament.

Thomas Hatch has twice hurled seven scoreless innings, improving his ERA to 2.04. Per Baseball America's Michael Lananna, the sophomore didn't think he submitted his best work when shutting down South Carolina in the Super Regionals:

As noted by ESPN.com's Eric Sorenson, Oklahoma State's pitching staff also has a wild side, surrendering 244 walks, 43 wild pitches and 47 hit batters this season. This could prove problematic in a bracket full of patient offenses.

If Hatch and Co. maintain their command, though, the Cowboys could ride their hot bats to an extended stay in Omaha.