College World Series 2012 Teams: Ranking Top Championship Contenders in Omaha

From Cinderellas to national powerhouses, the 2012 College World Series will feature some of the most intriguing teams in recent memory.

The lucky eight to advance to Omaha all have the talent and moxie necessary to win it all, but in the end, only one team will be crowned kings of college baseball.

Here are the top contenders to emerge from the wreckage in Omaha.

1. Florida Gators (47-18)

The 2011 runner-up, Florida is the favorite to take home the trophy this year.

Led by catcher Mike Zunino—the third overall pick in this year's MLB draft—and an incredibly deep pitching staff, the Gators are the most dangerous team in the field.

Florida cruised through their regional contests, then survived a tough test against North Carolina State in the Super Regional. That mix of dominance and adversity will serve them well in a competitive eight-team field where anything can happen.

The Gators' first game will be Saturday against South Carolina—the team that defeated them in last year's final.

2. South Carolina Gamecocks (45-17)

Speaking of the Gamecocks, I've got the two-time defending champs as the second-best team in the tournament.

They lost plenty of quality starters from last year's team, and only one team has ever three-peated in the CWS. Still, the experience, talent and confidence of South Carolina makes them as dangerous as anybody.

They've got a major weapon on the mound in senior lefty Michael Roth, who is 6-0 in his postseason career. He will look to expose a Florida team that has struggled against strong lefties this year.

If Roth can work some more magic in Omaha, the Gamecocks could certainly claim their third consecutive title.

3. Stony Brook Seawolves (52-13)

Count me as one of the thousands to jump on the Stony Brook bandwagon.

Although it's always fun to root for the underdogs, the Seawolves are no cute upstart. They are a legitimate threat to win it all, and they cannot be taken lightly.

They have a potent lineup, as they are ranked second in the nation with their .335 team batting average. Junior center fielder Travis Jankowski leads the way (.422 average), and after outhitting LSU 35-15 in three Super Regional games, they proved they can upend some of the best teams in the country.

The Seawolves begin their play Friday afternoon against UCLA. I'm expecting Stony Brook to get the win and build some momentum heading into the latter stages of the tournament.