Is this finally the year North Carolina baseball breaks through and wins that elusive first title? The Tar Heels reached the College World Series finals in 2006 and 2007, losing to Oregon State both times.
Unseeded Oklahoma may be a surprise finalist at the CWS, but the Sooners have been on a heater in the tournament and bring grit and confidence into this weekend’s championship series.
UNC brings a potent top of the batting order, while OU has relied on an arsenal of freshmen arms. Which will prevail? Here are our predictions for the CWS finals:
College World Series finals Oklahoma vs North Carolina baseball predictions
∎ Oklahoma over North Carolina in 3: This Sooners group is playing like a team of destiny. OU beat No. 2 overall seed Georgia Tech and No. 3 overall seed Georgia twice each and believes it can beat anybody. Everything has come together for Skip Johnson’s squad, including a pitching staff headlined by three freshmen and a lineup that has hit 26 home runs in 10 NCAA Tournament games. A team playing with house money is dangerous. — Colton Sulley, The Oklahoman
∎ North Carolina over Oklahoma in 2: UNC arrived in Omaha as the only team among the eight with top-10 marks in runs, ERA and fielding percentage. The pitching plan has gone according to plan, the defense has been stellar and the timely hits keep adding up. Nineteen years after coming up short in consecutive CWS championship series, the Tar Heels will finally get over the hump and win their first national championship. — Rodd Baxley, Fayetteville Observer
∎ North Carolina over Oklahoma in 2: It’s foolish to count Oklahoma out at this point. They’ve been hotter than anyone the past month. But North Carolina has several key players with Omaha experience, an offense that plays perfectly at Schwab Field and a fully loaded bullpen. After lots of previous heartbreak, this seems like North Carolina’s year. — Aria Gerson, The Tennessean
∎ Oklahoma over North Carolina in 2: This Sooners team is battle tested. They’ve won eight consecutive postseason games and their back-to-back wins against No. 2 Georgia Tech in the Atlanta Regional started it all. It’s hard to see Oklahoma losing with the magical run it’s on. — Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Network
College World Series championship series schedule
- Game 1: No. 5 North Carolina vs. Oklahoma | 8 p.m. | Saturday, June 20 | ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 2: No. 5 North Carolina vs. Oklahoma | 2:30 p.m. | Sunday, June 21 | ABC (Fubo)
- Game 3 (if necessary): 7 p.m. | Monday, June 22 | ESPN (Fubo)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College World Series finals predictions, who wins UNC or Oklahoma?
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