Agree totally.I would add Arizona as a possible threat as well. 26 in the RPI but they currently lead the PAC 12 and have a huge series against Oregon State this weekend. If Arizona wins the series, it’s possible there are two Pac 12 hosts.
Agree totally.I would add Arizona as a possible threat as well. 26 in the RPI but they currently lead the PAC 12 and have a huge series against Oregon State this weekend. If Arizona wins the series, it’s possible there are two Pac 12 hosts.
Agree. 4-0 would take some real odd things to happen to miss hosting. 4-0 plus 1 in Hoover seals it without questionI think 4-0 + a win in Hoover would just about clinch it. 4-0 without that win is probably better than 50-50. Key is keeping RPI in top 20. Hard to see an 18-win SEC team in the top 20 not hosting.
ACC teams are somewhat bound by geography though. They aren’t giving 5 host sites just to the state of North Carolina, or 7 host sites (almost half of them) to the Carolinas as a whole. That puts Duke, NCSU, East Carolina, and South Carolina all on notice. They along with Wake are 5 teams all competing with each other for probably, at most, 2-3 spots to go along with UNC and Clemson.I think the ACC teams you mentioned can move ahead of us potentially and it wouldn’t take anything too crazy. I think SC’s path to leap frogging us now is incredibly difficult.
Agree totally.
Committees showed last season that geography didn’t matter….14 sites when to the rpi top 16, the others were 17 and 19.ACC teams are somewhat bound by geography though. They aren’t giving 5 host sites just to the state of North Carolina, or 7 host sites (almost half of them) to the Carolinas as a whole. That puts Duke, NCSU, East Carolina, and South Carolina all on notice. They along with Wake are 5 teams all competing with each other for probably, at most, 2-3 spots to go along with UNC and Clemson.
I think the old geographic criteria for host selection isn’t really used anymore. There have been years with zero host sites on the West coast, for example.ACC teams are somewhat bound by geography though. They aren’t giving 5 host sites just to the state of North Carolina, or 7 host sites (almost half of them) to the Carolinas as a whole. That puts Duke, NCSU, East Carolina, and South Carolina all on notice. They along with Wake are 5 teams all competing with each other for probably, at most, 2-3 spots to go along with UNC and Clemson.
Heck, I'm not assuming we beat North Alabama. (only half joking)Have we not learned anything in the last 3 years? Assuming we sweep Mizzou is dangerous thinking…
With as bad as A&M has looked lately, I wouldn't put it past them to get swept this weekend.Interesting scenario:
-State sweep
-Arkansas sweep (A&M is playing bad right now)
-Florida wins at least one in Athens (not crazy)
We would finish 4th in the SEC and get a bye to the double elimination round in Hoover.
I think the least likely of the three is A&M getting swept.
I’m simply saying that too many of those teams are on the fringe. There’s not going to be room for ALL of them to host….too much mutual exclusivity there. NCAA will always award sites to deserving teams, but borderline teams from areas that already have a high density of sites are going to be more closely scrutinized.I think the old geographic criteria for host selection isn’t really used anymore. There have been years with zero host sites on the West coast, for example.
UNC, Clemson, and Wake are probably hosting. ECU will host if they stop losing to bad teams. Duke and NC State still very much have pathways too.
Did y'all see Arkansas last weekend? They didn't look all that great either. A&M will win 2.With as bad as A&M has looked lately, I wouldn't put it past them to get swept this weekend.
Arkansas is very good. They’ve gotta get their Saturday and Sunday starters right, they’ve struggled of late. But Smith is electric and they have probably the best bullpen in the country this year.Did y'all see Arkansas last weekend? They didn't look all that great either. A&M will win 2.
SC is cooked barring a shocking series win in Knoxville.I’m simply saying that too many of those teams are on the fringe. There’s not going to be room for ALL of them to host….too much mutual exclusivity there. NCAA will always award sites to deserving teams, but borderline teams from areas that already have a high density of sites are going to be more closely scrutinized.
So the proper lens to view it is there are these 6-7 teams in the Carolinas. Probably 4 will host, 5 max, with only Clemson and UNC assured of hosting. They can’t ALL host. Wake, ECU, Duke, NCSU, and South Carolina are all competing for 2-3 spots. Right now - Wake and ECU are on right side of the bubble. The other 3 are on the wrong side. That could shuffle in the final week.
Agree. Arkansas didn't have a good pitching weekend last weekend though. I was very surprised at the number of free passes they gave us, and how quickly we were able to get their top starters out of the game.Arkansas is very good. They’ve gotta get their Saturday and Sunday starters right, they’ve struggled of late. But Smith is electric and they have probably the best bullpen in the country this year.
That said, I still think A&M is really good too and would probably favor them in College Station.
The problem is there really can’t be that many. Its a hell of a long shot. Shít….Wake and NC State play each other this weekend. Wake wins series, NC State is out. NC State sweeps, Wake is probably out. NC State only takes 2 of 3 at home, they’d still only be 31-20, 17-12 in ACC. Wake would be 37-18, 16-14 ACC. That might knock BOTH out. Barring rainouts, I don’t see any scenario where at least one of those two is not out of the picture after this weekend.The best teams will host. The committee had no issues giving auburn a host spot last season in a crowded area.
location isn’t going to be scrutinized. And hasn’t been in years. If 6 teams from the Carolina’s deserve to host. They’ll host. Now saying they’ll get 6 is a totally different story. But they all have avenues still there, with South Carolina the longest of shots
Heck, I'm not assuming we beat North Alabama. (only half joking)