ESPN analyst pegs Gainesville as toughest regional in 2022 NCAA Baseball Championship

The full NCAA Baseball Tournament bracket has been revealed, with the road to Omaha for the College World Series now officially set. Following the bracket unveiling, ESPN analyst Kyle Peterson pegged the Gainesville Regional featuring top-seeded Florida as the toughest in this year’s field.

Florida is the 13th national seed, and will be the top team in the Gainesville Regional. The Gators are joined by a loaded crop of competitors, though, with Oklahoma, Liberty, and Central Michigan also in the field. Many thought that Oklahoma should have been a host after winning the Big 12 Tournament title, but the Sooners instead come to Gainesville to try and fight towards Super Regionals.

But the Sooners are far from the only team Florida needs to worry about int he Gainesville Regional.

“I’ve got Gainesville,” said Peterson the ESPN NCAA Baseball Championship Selection Show. “When you look at it honestly, Florida played themselves into a host and absolutely deserved it. Oklahoma won the [Big 12] Tournament and I thought they had a legitimate chance to host.  Liberty has already won a series at Florida this year.  And the four-seed, Central Michigan, is the only four-seed that has at least 40 wins.  And that’s who [the Gators] start with.

“Not going to be an easy path for the Gators.”

Florida went 39-22 overall this season, including a 23-11 mark at home, leading to the regional host bid. Oklahoma was 37-20 and 18-12 in games away from home, and Liberty was 37-21 overall. Central Michigan was an impressive 42-17. Florida and Liberty actually played each other to kick off the 2022 season, and the Flames came away with the series victory after taking the final two games of the weekend.

The Gainesville Regional will begin on Friday, with Florida facing off against Central Michigan and Oklahoma playing Liberty. The winners will then face off on Saturday, with the losers moving to the loser’s bracket with a chance to save their season.