CWS 2015: Predicting Winners and Scores for Thursday's NCAA Baseball Bracket

One more game to go, and the semifinals of the College World Series will be set. Thursday will feature LSU against TCU.

The winner of this elimination will take on defending national champions Vanderbilt on Friday, June 19. Continue below for predictions and a preview for Thursday's matchup. 

When	Team	Team	Prediction
Thursday, June 18, 8 p.m. ET	TCU	LSU	LSU 5-4

LSU gets another shot at TCU after the Horned Frogs manhandled the Tigers two rounds prior in a 10-3 victory. But the nation's top-ranked team will find a way to get to the semifinals.

Big players show up on the biggest stages. Shortstop Alex Bregman will do that against TCU. He went 4-5 in LSU's elimination game against Cal State Fullerton with one run scored.

Plus, the comeback win against Cal State Fullerton did wonders for LSU, as Bregman told Randy Rosetta of NOLA.com: "You can say it's just another win at the end of the day, but at this time of year and in the situation we were in, that really recharges us. Any time you get a win, it gets the team feeling good, and it reminds us that we can win."

With his speed and attention-grabbing capabilities, Bregman's presence on the basepaths is enough to distract the opposing pitcher. He also makes small ball possible with his base-stealing ability. 

Bregman went 2-4 in the 10-3 loss to TCU, so his supporting cast is going to be just as important. The other six batters in LSU's lineup that day recorded six hits.  But Bregman will need to get on base at least three times for LSU to have a shot. TCU's pitching is too good, and chances will be few and far between. 

It will be up to Bregman to be that shot in the arm for the Tigers. LSU has the fourth-best team average in the nation (.315) but will be taking on a TCU side that has the second-best team ERA in the country (2.37).

An aggressive, level approach like that of Bregman's could be an important strategy for LSU hitters. The offense is high-powered enough to break TCU pitching spirits, too. They lead the nation with 545 runs in 66 games.

On the defensive side, LSU will not be rolling out their aces in this game against TCU, which has been something of a problem, according to Josh Criswell of Death Valley Voice: "After constant instability at the No. 3 spot in the pitching rotation all season, head coach Paul Mainieri made the switch to a pitcher-by-committee system before postseason play began, something he will employ again Thursday night."

Reliever Zac Person will get the start, according to the Advocate's Ross Dellenger:

While TCU boasts a superior ERA, LSU's is not to be ignored either. At 2.91, they rank 11th in the country. 

Person has only started one game and has only pitched 29.2 innings this season entering Thursday. There will not be much out on him. While he might not go for too many innings, he could be able to hold a hot TCU offense early enough to frustrate them.

Then it will be up to the rest of a solid bullpen to keep throwing different looks at TCU.

LSU's postseason experience will prove too much for TCU, and they will find a way to get past the Horned Frogs and into the semifinals.

Stats courtesy of NCAA.com.