National Championship Series Preview..... Can the Rebs Pull off the Unthinkable???
The CWS National Championship Series starts tonight at 6pm Central in Omaha! The Ole Miss Rebels were the 64th team in the field and have a shot to do the unthinkable. The Rebels take on the smokin' hot Oklahama Sooners in a best 2 out of 3 series for immortality.
Oklahoma won the Big 12 Tournament and rode that momentum right through the NCAA Tourney winning the Gainesville Regional and at Virginia Tech in the Super.
Watch out for superstar SS Peyton Graham. Dude is a monster. He may be the best player in the entire tourney. Graham hit the two run homer in do or die game in the 8th at Florida that won that regional. He is hard as hell to get out and will be a big problem for the Rebels.
OU Cleanup hitter Tanner Treadaway has been ON ONE in this tourney. He is a hitting machine that no one is getting out. He went 4 for 4 with two homers and 2 doubles In Super Regional Game 3 at Virginia Tech.
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Oklahoma has an edge in this series because Ole Miss was forced to burn ace Dylan DeLucia on Thursday in extra game. The Sooners are undefeated in Omaha and have their pitching rotation set for the series.
Lefty Ace Jake Bennett takes the ball in Game 1. Oklahoma has won all of his starts in the NCAA Tourney. Ole Miss also struggles against lefties some. The Sooners have emerging star Cade Horton lined up for Game 2 and David Sandlin in Game 3 if needed. Both of those guys absolutely SHOVED in their Omaha starts against Notre Dame & Texas A&M.
The Sooners also have a spectacular closer in Trevon Michael who is not afraid to pitch 3 innings if needed.
Ole Miss also has two premium starters in Dylan DeLucia and Hunter Elliot. However neither of them will be taking the ball in Game 1. The Rebels will go with lefty senior John Gaddis who pitched well on Wednesday night vs. Arkansas allowing only 2 runs in 5 innings. Elliot will pitch game 2 and I would be shocked if DeLucia did not get the ball in game 3 on three days rest after his complete game shutout of Arkansas.
The Rebels offense is led by a trio of seniors in leadoff hitter Justin Bench, 1st Baseman Tim Elko and LF Kevin Graham. All three of these guys are phenomenal leaders and held this team together through a roller coaster season to put it mildly. Elko set the all time Ole Miss single season Home Run record this year and is one of my favorite Rebels of all time. Kemp Alderman has been on fire in the 5 hole in Omaha as well.
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Oklahoma is a solid favorite with Jake Bennett throwing in Game 1. The Rebels are in a pretty tough spot tonight because of the pitching situation but they do have a rested bullpen. Ole Miss could easily drop game 1 tonight and be up against the wall tomorrow with Elliot throwing. The Rebels also have A TON of fans here and I expect some homefield edge in the series.
My official prediction is Ole Miss in 3 games. Even if the Rebs drop Game 1, I have FAITH they win the last two games and their first national title behind Elliot and DeLucia!
HELL YEAH! DAMN RIGHT!