NCAA Super Regionals 2017: Schedule and Game Predictions for Saturday's Action
All 16 teams vying for a College World Series spot can take one step closer during Saturday's packed Super Regionals slate.
After the best-of-three round commenced with four Friday games, the action will heat up during the weekend. While some schools can advance to the next stage with one more triumph, the fun is just beginning for half the bracket.
By Tuesday, eight teams will punch a ticket to Omaha, Nebraska, for the College World Series. Saturday's schedule, courtesy of NCAA.com, could reveal some of those participants, but let's focus on three of the series starting from scratch.
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Saturday Super Regionals Schedule
Sam Houston State at Florida State: 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2
No. 7 Louisville at Kentucky: 12 p.m. ET on ESPN
Wake Forest at No. 3 Florida: 3 p.m. ET on ESPN
Long Beach State at CSU Fullerton: 3 p.m. ET on ESPNU
Texas A&M at Davidson: 6 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Missouri State at No. 6 TCU: 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU
Mississippi State at No. 4 LSU: 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2
No. 1 Oregon State at Vanderbilt: 9 p.m. on ESPN
Predictions
Sam Houston State at Florida State
One of the Super 16's best underdog stories, Sam Houston State booted No. 5 Texas Tech from the regionals with two upsets. Yet they're still far from a favorite against No. 16 Florida State, who has won 10 of its last 11 games.
Per Jenny Dial Creech of Houston Chronicle, Bearkats infielder Lance Miles prefers to keep sneaking up on everybody.
"I like it," he said. "I like this better. I like having a chip on my shoulder and having something to prove."
They lack power, but a speedy, high-contact offense led by Bryce Johnson collectively bats .305 with 102 steals in 138 tries. Not afraid to drag a bunt with two strikes, they play a volatile, disruptive style conducive to catching favorites off guard.
Yet the Seminoles will counter that plucky offense with ace Tyler Holton, who will start Saturday according to WCTV's Kenny Morales:
The sophomore has registered 53 strikeouts in his last five outings, most recently accruing 13 in a complete-game regional win over UCF. Sam Houston State wreaks havoc on balls in play, but the southpaw has limited opponents to a microscopic .166 batting average.
Sam Houston's quest to its first College World Series will hit a roadblock when Florida State seizes the first game.
Prediction: Florida State 4, Sam Houston State 3
Wake Forest at Florida
Wake Forest has not returned to Omaha since winning it all in 1955. That could change if its superb offense overpowers the hosting Florida Gators.
The Demon Deacons crushed their way through the regionals by scoring 27 runs in three games, all victories. They have scored 7.9 runs per contest behind an NCAA-leading 100 home runs.
Luckily for the Gators, they can combat Stuart Fairchild and Co. with Alex Faedo, Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar. An anonymous coach called them "as good a three starters as there are in the country" to Baseball America, but Faedo—expected to get selected in the first round of Monday's MLB draft—represents the ace likely to receive Saturday's assignment.
Sporting a cumulative 4.16 ERA while issuing 3.9 walks per nine innings, Wake Forest needs offensive fireworks to survive. That's a tough ask against Faedo, who lowered his ERA to 2.70 with a one-run regional gem last week.
Home-field advantage also works against Wake Forest, who is 18-11 away from a smaller home park tailored for its sluggers. On the road against front-line pitching, the Demon Deacons won't rake enough to overcome their pitching deficiencies.
Prediction: Florida 6, Wake Forest 4
Mississippi State at LSU
Boasting a 14-game winning streak—during which they earned the SEC title—the No. 3 LSU Tigers are considerable favorites to top the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Don't tell that to Brent Rooker.
Mississippi State's stellar first baseman enters Super Regionals hitting a torrid .394/.498/.827 with 23 home runs and 18 stolen bases. The junior went yard in each of its regional victories, eliminating No. 10 Southern Mississippi.
How can LSU stop someone who's hitting like Barry Bonds circa the early 2000's? As Tigers pitching coach Alan Dunn told The Times-Picayune's Andrew Lopez, the best way to slow down Rooker may be to stymie everyone else.
"You look at this guy's season and it's just unbelievable, the things that he's done," Dunn said. "But what's probably just as important as that is the guys around him. You keep those guys off bases, then you have a much better chance to keep runs off the board. You got to manage the whole lineup."
Despite Rooker's dominance, the Bulldogs' 5.6 runs per game ranks 150th in the nation. More problematic to their upset chances, their 4.82 staff ERA is the worst mark of any Super 16 squad.
LSU, meanwhile, will deploy top pitching prospect Alex Lange on Saturday, per Tiger Rag's James Moran:
Days before he gets drafted by an MLB club, likely in the opening round, the junior righty can improve his 2.87 ERA as long as he doesn't offer Rooker any major run-producing opportunities. Look for the favored Tigers to prevail.
Prediction: LSU 8, Mississippi State 3
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