SIOC looks at 32 teams vying for a trip to Omaha

By Bryan Smith

Between last season's Cinderella Oregon State Beavers, a well-reviewed video game and an increasingly popular draft in the distance, college baseball's fanbase is on the upswing. These fans will probably send me e-mails complaining this is not a true baseball preview, that numerous teams in the nation have already played as many as seven games. In response to this, I agree -- for now, we'll have to accept this as a reactionary preview, juggling teams with and without 2007 box scores. In one year, college baseball will implement a uniform start date, with games beginning on Feb. 22 across the nation. For now, this weekend is the de facto season opener, as most of my top 32 teams below will be in action this weekend.

EIGHT IN OMAHA

	After batting .303 with 17 homers and 63 RBI his freshman year, 1B Justin Smoak is ready to lead the Gamecocks to Omaha. AP
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1. South Carolina Gamecocks

A product of this reactionary preview left me on a search for a new top team, as Rice proved last weekend they do not deserve the spot. So, looking for a title-bound prediction, I went on a search for a few criteria: a deep, experienced pitching staff, a good closer and a dangerous middle of the order. South Carolina is this team. Arik Hempy's midseason return from injury will shore up a veteran staff that also welcomes star freshman Nick Fuller. In the closer spot is former starter Wynn Pelzer, the power right-hander should be both versatile and dominant in his new role. And, of course, the star of the show is first baseman Justin Smoak, perhaps the nation's most talented player.

2. Clemson Tigers

Retaining Andy D'Alessio changes the entire dynamic of a Clemson team that anticipated being pushed into a small ball approach in 2007. Now they will be able to do both, with Brad Chalk and Stan Widmann setting the table for the dangerous D'Alessio and 2B Taylor Harbin. The Tigers were confident enough in their ability to replace their entire weekend rotation to not change Daniel Moskos' closer role, so much of the Tigers season hinges on the first-year development of blue-chip recruit Josh Thrailkill.

3. Miami Hurricanes

Dropping the season-opening series to Mercer looks to be an anomaly, as Miami came back last weekend sweeping UCLA. However, the Hurricanes bullpen was left exposed against Mercer, as JuCo transfer Enrique Garcia did nothing to assuage Hurricane fans about the loss of closer Chris Perez. An experienced rotation and the deadly combination of sophomore right side Jemile Weeks and Yonder Alonso should still send the 'Canes back to Omaha.

4. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt is hoping to duplicate Tennessee's 2005 season in which a star pitcher and hitter led a team to Omaha. Where Tennessee had ace Luke Hochevar and 3B Chase Headley, Vanderbilt brings the nation's top pitcher David Price and top sophomore 3B Pedro Alvarez. Tennessee leaned heavily on closer Sean Watson, and the Commodores will do the same with flame-throwing Casey Weathers. However, to make it to Omaha, Vanderbilt will need to find two more hitters (Dominic de la Osa and Ryan Flaherty?) and one more solid starter (Ty Davis?) to complete the Volunteers' model.

5. Arkansas Razorbacks

The immediacy of Arkansas' 2006 recruiting class is unrivaled in the country -- the Razorbacks went across the country inking the nation's top junior college recruits. The best of the bunch is Jess Todd, a summer league star with a mid-80s slider who looked great in the closer role last weekend. Todd will be part of one of the nation's best pitching staffs led by Nick Schmidt, but the team is on the look-out for offense. A pair of seniors are vaunted in the middle of the line up, but Brian Walker and Jeff Nutt will need to add depth to the lineup for this team to win close games.

6. Virginia Cavaliers

Coach Brian O'Connor has done an exceptional job at Virginia building a team designed to play in their environment. Playing in the nation's most difficult hitting park, the team is filled with good pitchers and spray hitters. Reigning ACC Player of the Year Sean Doolittle does both, but will need to hit more road home runs to keep the Cavaliers in games away from Davenport Field. Alongside Doolittle, look for David Adams to break out as one of the nation's best second baseman, and Jake Thompson to challenge Doolittle for the role of the ACC's best pitcher.

7. Rice Owls

Far more worrisome than the Owls' lackadaisical 2-3 start is the questionable health of closer Cole St. Clair's left shoulder. Recent history has proven the need for a dominant closer in Omaha, and without the versatile St. Clair, the pitching staff's holes become more glaring. Not only does this injury thrust Bobby Bell into a star role, but it puts an even bigger onus on Jr. 1B/LHP Joe Savery. If Savery doesn't return to his dominant freshman form, Rice is another good offense without enough pitching for the postseason.

8. Tulane Green Wave

New stadiums don't draw much attention in college baseball, but Tulane moving back to campus and away from the minor league stadium they used in 2006 is a huge season subplot. The move will be a huge positive for the offense, as Warren McFadden will see some of his many doubles turn to home runs while Aja Barto should begin to match his hype. The pitching staff added a huge arm in Cape Cod League star Shooter Hunt, giving the Green Wave a deep, underrated pitching staff.