2025 College World Series Predictions: Picking Our ‘Eight For Omaha’ (May 9)

Baseball America is back with a brand new College World Series projection featuring six teams that held onto their spots and two newcomers replacing Clemson and UC Irvine.

It is important to note that this prediction is accurate to our latest Field of 64, meaning no teams in this installment of Eight for Omaha would face each other in a projected regional or super regional. This week, we’ve also included included a list of the opponents BA has projected into each regional and potential super regional that our Eight for Omaha picks would need to get through en route to the College World Series.

Teams are listed alphabetically.

Arkansas

Record: 40-9; 17-7 SEC
RPI: 4
Projected Teams To Beat To Make CWS: Miami, Kansas, George Mason, Oregon State, Southern California, Kansas State, San Diego

We said last week that Arkansas’ ceiling was undeniable, even as the Hogs hit a rough patch. They responded by sweeping then-No. 1 Texas and slamming the door on any lingering doubt. Now sitting at 40 wins and back inside the top five on the BA Top 25, Arkansas could be rounding into postseason form at the perfect time. As we’ve always said, the Razorbacks’ arms are legit, their bullpen is battle-tested and their offense can reach a gear few others can. After a statement weekend, there’s no justifiable reason to leave the Razorbacks off this list for what would have been the first time.

Coastal Carolina

Record: 39-11; 21-4 Sun Belt
RPI: 11
Projected Teams To Beat To Make CWS: Auburn, Southern Miss, Duke, Kent State, Alabama, Connecticut, High Point

After picking them for Omaha last week, the Chanticleers rattled off a sweep of App State, a midweek win over Clemson and a gritty comeback to open their penultimate Sun Belt series against Louisiana-Monroe. The numbers on the mound are elite—top 10% nationally in walk rate, strikeout rate, WHIP and FIP—and that kind of staff can carry a team deep into June. The offense still has question marks, but if Coastal keeps finding ways to scratch across runs, its pitching alone makes it a dangerous Omaha threat.

Florida State

Record: 34-10; 14-7 ACC
RPI: 7
Projected Teams To Beat To Make CWS:Troy, Mississippi State, Bethune-Cookman, West Virginia, NC State, Texas A&M, Wright State

The Seminoles are back in our Omaha picks after briefly falling out last week in what was more a matter of path than performance. But now, with a favorable regional projection and a statement series win over Clemson, Florida State looks like a team built to play deep into June. The offense has length, the rotation is reliable and there’s enough high-end arm talent in the bullpen to hold up against elite competition. This group has the tools and now the bracket break to chase a return trip to Omaha.

Georgia

Record: 39-11; 15-9 SEC
RPI: 2
Projected Teams To Beat To Make CWS: Louisville, Austin Peay, Central Connecticut, Oregon, Arizona, Cal Poly, Sacramento State

No team in the country is hotter than Georgia, which just climbed to No. 1 in the BA Top 25 and sits one win away from its seventh 40-win season this century. Explosive on offense, surging on the mound and built with balance throughout the roster, Wes Johnson’s squad has hit a stride few others can match. The Bulldogs still have work to do reestablishing their early-season identity at the plate, but the ceiling here is obvious. With a shot at the No. 1 overall seed in play and a schedule that sets up reasonably well, Georgia looks every bit like a team capable of staying hot through June.

LSU

Record: 38-11; 15-9 SEC
RPI: 9
Projected Teams To Beat To Make CWS: UTSA, Southeastern Louisiana, Holy Cross, UCLA, UC Irvine, Arizona State, Yale

The Tigers slipped in College Station last weekend, but a series loss to Texas A&M isn’t enough to knock them off the Omaha board, especially with the path laid out in our latest Field of 64. LSU looks like the clear favorite in its projected regional and super, and this is still the same ultra-talented group we’ve raved about all season.

North Carolina

Record: 37-10; 16-9 ACC
RPI: 8
Projected Teams To Beat To Make CWS: Florida, Cincinnati, SIUE, Clemson, Ole Miss, Xavier, Fairfield

The Tar Heels are back this week, not because of a major resume shift, but because their upside remains as intriguing as any team in the field. At full throttle, this offense can score in bunches with a deep, diverse skill set. But where Carolina really separates is on the mound. Few staffs combine swing-and-miss stuff with strike-throwing like this one, and the team-wide FIP of 3.97 backs it up. With a more favorable draw in the latest projection, the pieces are in place for a deep run.

Tennessee

Record: 38-11; 14-10 SEC
RPI: 13
Projected Teams To Beat To Make CWS: Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Oral Roberts, Wake Forest, East Tennessee State, Missouri State

This was the toughest call of the week. The Volunteers haven’t looked like themselves lately, dropping four of their last five series, and their path isn’t exactly a cakewalk with Vanderbilt and Arkansas coming up plus a grizzly postseason projection. But even with those red flags, Tennessee’s raw talent, postseason pedigree and Tony Vitello’s track record are enough to keep them in the eight—for now. When this team is locked in, it can overwhelm anyone in the country. I’m betting they rediscover that form in time.

Texas

Record: 39-8; 19-5 SEC
RPI: 1
Projected Teams To Beat To Make CWS: Dallas Baptist, UTRGV, Bryant, TCU, Oklahoma, Northeastern, Nevada

The Longhorns have been a staple in our Omaha picks all spring—and for good reason. They roared through SEC play with a 19-2 start, surged to the No. 1 spot in the RPI and still hold that perch even after getting swept by Arkansas. That stumble raises fair questions, though, especially with injuries to some Texas stars like ace Jared Spencer, outfielder Max Belyeu and third baseman and left fielder Adrian Rodriguez, who’s been limited to lefthanded swings only due to injury. But this team has earned the benefit of the doubt. It’s deep, battle-tested and still owns a postseason resume as strong as anyone’s. With a closing kick against Florida and Oklahoma, Texas has a chance to reassert itself and remind everyone why it’s been the most complete team in college baseball.