The 2024 NCAA Baseball Tournament is set and with that comes the Regional matchups. Florida State was awarded the eighth overall seed maintaining the success among the ACC in 2024. They’ll welcome Alabama, UCF, and Stetson to Tallahasee for the Regional round. Here’s a brief overview of each team along with a prediction for who will advance to the Super Regionals.
#1 Florida State Seminoles
The Seminoles have recorded a 42-15 overall record and a 17-12 ACC record. They’re 27-4 at home and look to improve upon that record in the Regional. Although FSU didn’t win the ACC tournament, they made a fairly deep run and are an incredible team all around.
Players to Watch | Season Stats
Cam Smith – .397 BA, 1.158 OPS, 93 H, 20 2B, 14 HR, 50 RBI
James Tibbs III – .377 BA, 1.305 OPS, 81 H, 25 HR, 84 RBI, .814 SLG
Jamie Arnold 2.45 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 10-3 W/L, 134 K, 20 BB, .218 B/AVG
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama comes to Tallahassee looking to cap off their season with a possible Super Regional berth. The Crimson Tide are obviously very battle tested coming out of the most rigorous conference in college baseball. They went 33-22 with a 13-17 record in SEC play. They look to improve upon their 8-12 away record and with experience playing multiple solid opponents outside of the SEC this season, like Dallas Baptist, Indiana, and Southern Miss, they should be ready.
Players to Watch | Season Stats
Gage Miller – .381 BA, 1.189 OPS, 80 H, 12 2B, 18 HR, 56 RBI, .714 SLG
#3 University of Central Florida Golden Knights
The Golden Knights in their first year in the Big 12 went 35-19 and 14-15 in Big 12 play, securing an at-large bid. They’ve battled some of the hardest teams all year whether it was in conference or out of conference. They’re no doubt one of the tougher three seeds among the Regionals.
Players to Watch | Season Stats
Matt Prevesk – .347 BA, .896 OPS, 78 H, 10 2B, 35 RBI
Dominic Castellano – 2.73 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 6-0 W/L, 20 APP, 56.0 IP, 38 K
#4 Stetson Hatters
Stetson doesn’t have to travel far for their Regional round. The 40-20 squad that went 20-10 in the A-Sun while taking home a conference tournament championship will head to Tallahassee looking to defy the odds. Experience against UCF and FSU will be useful and with wins against both teams this year, the Hatters have to feel like they have a shot. They’re on a current three game win streak and look to keep that going this weekend.
Players to Watch | Season Stats
Kyle Jones .352 BA, .910 OPS, 83 H, 14 2B, 22 SB
Predicted Winner #4 Stetson
This is admittedly one of the more unlikely predictions. Stetson has experience against their in-state Florida opponents in this Regional, and with that could very well beat any of these teams in the Regional. Upsets are bound to happen and with a team that knows their opponents here like Stetson, they can very well make that upset happen.