Blind Resumes of the College World Series

It was a whirlwind to get here, but yet this week seems to have gone forever. NC State takes the field in the opening game of the 2021 College World Series Saturday, against Stanford. This year more than any other season, has big time potential for some wild games and results. So let’s play a little game, shall we?

College World Series Setup

Quick reminder of CWS format. Eight teams are divided into two groups. Double-elimination style, until only one school emerges from both brackets. Those two teams meet for all the marbles in a three-game series.

Bring Me Thy Resumes!

We covered it before, nobody likes State’s chances. Whether it’s Vegas’ +1200 odds, or ACC Insiders 4.2% chance, Wolfpack is getting no love.

For diehard State fans, you’ll probably guess these, for everyone else, WELCOME TO THE SHOW! Below are three teams and their corresponding stats…One is State, the other two are the top picks to win the CWS, Vanderbilt and Texas. (Bold for category leaders).

Team A
Away/Neutral Record: 13-9
Team Batting Average: .297
Runs Per Game: 7.13
Home Runs Per Game: 1.43
Team Fielding Percentage: .976
Team ERA: 3.37

Team B
Away/Neutral Record: 22-6
Team Batting Average: .289
Runs Per Game: 7.04
Home Runs Per Game: 1.68
Team Fielding Percentage: .983
Team ERA: 5.12

Team C
Away/Neutral Record: 15-10
Team Batting Average: .281
Runs Per Game: 6.84
Home Runs Per Game: 1.02
Team Fielding Percentage: .980
Team ERA: 2.89

Ready?

Who is who?

Team A: Vanderbilt    Team B: NC State    Team C: Texas

Road and neutral record is HUGE, considering every game of CWS is neutral (duh). State has a monstrous advantage going 22-6 this year (and that includes going 4-5 against nationally ranked teams THIS postseason run). Vandy has the advantage on batting average and runs, but State is so close behind. Dingers is all Pack Power. State also wins for being super clean defensively. The biggest red flag is team ERA. The games at the start of the season and the recent 21-1 thumping by Arkansas crushed State’s numbers, but even without those stinkers, probably still third in this stellar group.

We’ll say this until the last pitch of the season; State has the starting arms and that’s it. Full confidence in Johnston, Highfill, Willadsen and Villaman. Justice has come on STRONG as a closer. In between, not as pretty.

Where State has the advantage is hitting. This order, 1 through 9, on any given day can go off. One day McDonough will go for two in a game. Then Torres just decides to put together an amazing three-game stretch. Butler gets hot again, batting insane numbers. Brown becomes Regional MVP. They NEED to show up for State to win.

In the end, based on records, hitting, fielding and pitching…State actually has more advantages than the top two odds on favorites this CWS.

Now we just have to play the ACTUAL games. #GoPack