Field of 64 Projections: Two new hosts step up in updated NCAA Tournament picture

A lot has changed in the last week when it comes to the NCAA Tournament picture in college baseball. After this past weekend came to a close, we have released updated Field of 64 Projections as the postseason inches closer.

We have two new hosts this week, with one all the way up as the No. 10 overall seed in South Carolina. Another SEC team joins the hosting picture this week as well, as Georgia leaps into the top 16 at No. 15. That gives the SEC six hosts in this week’s projections. The ACC also has six hosts this week.

With South Carolina and Georgia entering the hosting picture, that means two teams fell out from last week’s projections. Those teams are Coastal Carolina (previously No. 13 seed) and Vanderbilt (previously No. 16 seed).

In addition to the changes amongst the hosts, the bubble has been updated yet again. New teams got on the right side of this week’s field, while others fell to the outside looking in.

Here is a full look at our Field of 64 projections this week as college baseball’s NCAA Tournament nears. Just three weeks remain until conference tournaments get underway.

*denotes automatic qualifier

Bubble Watch

Last Four In: Texas, Troy, Florida, Georgia Tech
First Four Out: TCU, Oregon, Charleston, Maryland
Next Four Out: Ole Miss, Illinois, Cal, Xavier

College Station Regional

1. Texas A&M (1)*
2. Arizona
3. Samford*
4. Omaha*

Texas A&M just keeps taking care of business, and the Aggies remain in the top spot in this week’s projections. While the final weekend of the regular season against Arkansas will likely be a determining factor for the top overall seed, Texas A&M holds firm in that spot with a 38-6 overall record and a 15-6 mark in the SEC. The top RPI team is joined in the College Station Regional by Arizona, Samford and Omaha.

Durham Regional

1. Duke (16)
2. UC Irvine*
3. Texas Tech
4. Western Kentucky*

The final few hosting spots are seemingly wide open. In this week’s Field of 64 projections, Duke gets the nod in the final hosting spot. The Blue Devils are 30-14 overall and 14-10 in the ACC, and sit at No. 19 in RPI. Duke has just two weekends left on the season, including North Carolina in the last weekend. That series will be huge, but Duke gets the nod as a host for now. They are joined by UC Irvine, Texas Tech and Western Kentucky in the Durham Regional.

Fayetteville Regional

1. Arkansas (2)
2. Virginia Tech
3. Lamar*
4. Florida A&M*

Arkansas could very easily sneak into the top spot with a series against Texas A&M coming up, but they remain in the second seed right now. The Razorbacks are 37-7 overall, 16-5 in the SEC and sit at No. 2 in RPI. It seems pretty safe to assume that Texas A&M and Arkansas will be the top two seeds when it’s all said and done. Joining Arkansas in the Fayetteville Regional this week is Virginia Tech, Lamar and Florida A&M.

Athens Regional

1. Georgia (15)
2. NC State
3. Louisiana Tech
4. USC Upstate*

Georgia is one of the new hosts in this week’s Field of 64 projections. They have been right on the cusp, but now they sit in a solid spot. The Bulldogs are 31-12 overall and 10-11 in the SEC, also sitting No. 9 in RPI. Georgia needs to get to .500 in SEC play, but we expect them to do so over the final three weeks. If they do, it’ll be tough to deny them a top 16 bid. Also in Athens is NC State, Louisiana Tech and USC Upstate.

Knoxville Regional

1. Tennessee (3)
2. Northeastern
3. Utah
4. Long Island*

Tennessee is putting together an impressive resume, one that’s likely to net them a top three overall seed as of right now. The Vols are 37-7 overall, 15-6 in the SEC and No. 5 in RPI. They have a manageable schedule down the stretch as well, and have a great chance to end up as a top three seed when it’s all said and done. Joining them in the Knoxville Regional is Northeastern, Utah and Long Island.

Charlottesville Regional

1. Virginia (14)
2. West Virginia
3. UConn*
4. Bowling Green*

Virginia is right on the hosting line, but they remain on the right side of the picture in this week’s Field of 64. Sitting at 33-12 overall, 14-10 in the ACC and No. 14 in RPI, Virginia certainly has a strong case. They end the year with two home series against NC State and Virginia Tech, and if they win both of those they’ll likely be hosting a regional. Also in Charlottesville in this projected regional is West Virginia, UConn and Bowling Green.

Clemson Regional

1. Clemson (4)*
2. Louisiana*
3. Kansas State
4. Bryant*

With a 34-9 overall record and a 15-6 mark in the ACC, Clemson is in a good position to be a high-end host when the full field is announced. The Tigers pretty much control their own destiny, and feel like a pretty safe top eight seed as of right now. Joining Clemson in this regional is Louisiana, Kansas State and Bryant.

Norman Regional

1. Oklahoma (13)*
2. Vanderbilt
3. Southern Miss
4. Grand Canyon*

Even after (controversially) losing a series to Texas this weekend, Oklahoma is still our projected Big 12 winner and a regional host in this week’s Field of 64. The Sooners’ RPI is No. 18, and they’ll need to string together wins down the stretch. If they do, and end up winning the Big 12, they are very likely to host. They are joined in the Norman Regional by Vanderbilt, Southern Miss and Grand Canyon.

Tallahassee Regional

1. Florida State (5)
2. Nebraska
3. Troy
4. Jacksonville*

This was a massive week for Florida State, as they picked up a strong series win on the road at Duke. The Seminoles were in need of another statement series win to solidify themselves as a top eight seed, and now they have it. Florida State also has a manageable schedule to round out the year, and they are a pretty safe bet to be a top eight host. Also in Tallahassee is Nebraska, Troy and Jacksonville.

Terre Haute Regional

1. Indiana State (12)*
2. Dallas Baptist
3. Texas
4. Dayton*

Indiana State holds firm as a regional host this week, and it would be pretty surprising at this point to see them fall out of that territory. The Sycamores should win their final three weekends, which would likely lock them into one of the tournament’s top 16 seeds. They are joined in Terre Haute by Dallas Baptist, Texas and Dayton.

Greenville Regional

1. East Carolina (6)*
2. Coastal Carolina
3. Georgia Tech
4. Wright State*

East Carolina just keeps winning, and they are all the way up to the No. 6 overall seed in this week’s Field of 64 projections. The Pirates should cruise down the stretch and run away with the AAC regular season, and seem to be pretty safe as a host. The top eight race is an interesting one, but ECU right now is in a great spot. They are joined in Greenville by Coastal Carolina, Georgia Tech and Wright State.

Winston-Salem Regional

1. Wake Forest (11)
2. Alabama
3. UCF
4. Columbia*

Wake Forest had a setback this weekend, falling on the road at Notre Dame. Still, the Demon Deacons are in line to host a regional. They are far from locked in right now, though, so they’ll need to get back on track down the stretch. Wake Forest is joined by Alabama, James Madison and Columbia in the projected Winston-Salem Regional.

Lexington Regional

1. Kentucky (7)
2. San Diego*
3. Purdue*
4. Niagara*

Kentucky has lost two consecutive weekend series, but still remain in good position for a top eight seed. The Wildcats need to win some games over their final three weekends, and they have a big opportunity to skyrocket this weekend against Arkansas. Either way, the Wildcats are safe as a host, likely as a top eight, and could reach even higher. Kentucky also sees San Diego, Purdue and Niagara in the Lexington Regional.

Columbia Regional

1. South Carolina (10)
2. Oklahoma State
3. James Madison
4. Army*

South Carolina has officially joined the hosting picture, and they leap all the way up to the No. 10 overall seed in this week’s Field of 64. The Gamecocks sit at No. 11 in RPI with opportunities to keep creeping up, but regardless they would be hosting a regional if the field was selected today. The Gamecocks are joined in Columbia by Oklahoma State, James Madison and Army.

Chapel Hill Regional

1. North Carolina (8)
2. Mississippi State
3. UNC Wilmington*
4. Little Rock*

North Carolina gets the nod this week as the final top eight seed, and the Tar Heels sit in a pretty good spot. They are 33-11 overall and 17-7 in the ACC, also at No. 7 in RPI. If they finish the season on a high note, UNC is a guaranteed regional host and a very likely candidate to be in the 6-8 range. They are joined this week by Mississippi State, UNC Wilmington and Little Rock.

Corvallis Regional

1. Oregon State (9)*
2. UC Santa Barbara
3. Florida
4. Fresno State*

Oregon State is moving in the right direction after a series win over Oregon this week, but it wasn’t enough to get them back into top eight territory yet. The Beavers sit at No. 12 in RPI and need to keep winning to take control of the Pac-12, but if they do they’ll likely be a sure bet for a top ten seed. Also in Corvallis is UC Santa Barbara, Florida and Fresno State.