Is The 2009 Norman Baseball Regional a Definite Win For the Oklahoma Sooners?

As the 2009 college baseball season continues on, 64 teams continue their dream of advancing to Omaha to be the nation's best. Just like Fresno State last year, the slipper will only fit one team.

In my opinion the most intriguing regional of 2009 is the Norman Regional. The four-team pod consists of the No. 1 seed, No. 7 seed Oklahoma Sooners, No. 2 seed Arkansas Razorbacks, No. 3 seed Washington State Cougars, and No. 4 seed Wichita State Shockers.

Why is this region so intriguing? Well, because the host team Oklahoma has played each of the teams in their pod at least once this season, with a combined record of 4-3. They have played Arkansas once (0-1), Whicita State twice (2-0), and Washington State four times (2-2). One play here or one pitch there, literally, could have helped the Sooners win all those games.

What do I mean by that?

First of all, take the Washington State series for example. The four game set with the Cougars was the first road trip of the season for the Sooners, and you would think coming back and splitting the series would be a good thing.

Maybe.

As Oklahoma has proved over the course of the season, they don't play well in less than ideal weather conditions and by all accounts, the trip to the Great Northwest was sloppy and cold.  Lest we also not forget, OU got swept at home to the Kansas Jayhawks in rainy weather and lost the final game in the Bedlam Series to OSU because it was wet and cold.

Also, close strike zones don't favor Sooner pitching, at least not with the game on the line. Back when the Sooners tangled with the highly-ranked Razorbacks, the Sooners lost on a full-count, bases loaded walk due to a so-called strike that, according to radio play-by-play man Chuck Kelly, was right down the middle.

So, as you can see, there will be several interesting sub plots besides the obvious Super Regional berth on the table.

My prediction is that with the help of the home turf, the Sooners march through to the second weekend. But, Sooner fans, don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Especially if the weather gets cold.