By R.L. Bynum
OMAHA, Neb. — With the only team seeded higher than North Carolina one win away from elimination, the path at the College World Series to a national championship for the No. 4-ranked Tar Heels could be getting smoother.
The No. 5-seed Tar Heels (52–12–1) are now the favorite to win the national championship after Georgia (52–13), the No. 3 seed and No. 3-ranked, lost 4–3 Monday night in a thriller against SEC rival Oklahoma (40–22).
After defeating No. 9 West Virginia 5–2 on Sunday night and Georgia’s loss, the Tar Heels moved from the second-best odds of winning the title at +190 to the favorite at -115, with Oklahoma now second at +275. The Bulldogs’ loss dropped them from the favorite at +160 to the third choice at +700.
According to pearratings.com, Carolina has by far the best chance of making the CWS Finals (85.3% vs. 61.9% for Oklahoma) and of winning the national championship (48.5% vs. 23.7% for the Sooners).
More CWS coverage
— West Virginia rolls to earn rematch with Heels, who go to CWS Finals with win
— French’s Omaha challenges have included fastballs and organic chemistry
— One win away from CWS Finals, lefty Boaz will start for UNC
— ‘Loose as a goose’ Glauber belies his age, meets the moment
All of that doesn’t mean it will be easy for Carolina, of course, which will still need to keep getting the elite defense and pitching, as well as timely hitting, that has it 2–0 in Omaha.
A win away from a berth in the CWS Finals, Coach Scott Forbes’ Tar Heels will play at 2:07 p.m. Wednesday against No. 9 West Virginia in a rematch of Sunday’s win, needing one win to clinch a spot in the CWS Finals. A loss would force a deciding game in Bracket 1 on Thursday.
Even if UNC loses that game, it could advance with a win in what would be the deciding game of Bracket 1 on Thursday at either 2:07 p.m. or 7:07 p.m.
In Bracket 2, Georgia faces Texas (46–14), No. 6-ranked and No. 6-seeded, in a 7:07 p.m. Tuesday elimination game. Oklahoma faces the winner of that game at 7:07 p.m. Wednesday, a win away from the CWS Final. Should the Sooners lose that game, there would be a deciding Bracket 2 game on Thursday at 2:07 or 7:07.
If there is only one game on Thursday, it would be played at 7:07, and all games would air on ESPN.
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College World Series
At Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Neb.
Sunday, June 21, game on ABC, all other games on ESPN
Bracket 1
No. 5-seed and No. 4-ranked North Carolina (51–12–1), No. 16-seed and No. 9-ranked West Virginia (47–15), Troy (39–32; eliminated) and No. 23-ranked Ole Miss (41–23; eliminated)
Bracket 2
No. 3-seed and No. 3-ranked Georgia (52–13), No. 6-seed and No. 6-ranked Texas (46–14), Oklahoma (40–22) and No. 7-seed and No. 16-ranked Alabama (42–21; eliminated)
Pool play
All listed times are ET
Last Friday’s results
West Virginia 7, Troy 5
North Carolina 6, Ole Miss 2
Last Saturday’s results
Oklahoma 9, Alabama 0
Georgia 7, Texas 1
Sunday’s results
Troy 12, Ole Miss 8; Ole Miss eliminated
North Carolina 5, West Virginia 2
Monday’s results
Texas 14, Alabama 2; Alabama eliminated
Oklahoma 4, Georgia 3
Tuesday’s games
West Virginia 12, Troy 0; Troy eliminated
Texas vs. Georgia, elimination game, 7:07 p.m.
Wednesday’s games
North Carolina (junior left-hander Folger Boaz; 3–3, 7.03 ERA) vs. West Virginia, 2:07 p.m.
Oklahoma vs. Texas-Georgia winner, 7:07 p.m.
Thursday’s games
North Carolina vs. West Virginia if WVU wins Wednesday, 2:07 or 7:07
Deciding Bracket 2 game if Oklahoma loses on Wednesday, 2:07 or 7:07
CWS Finals
(Best-of-3 series)
Game 1: Saturday, 8:07 p.m.
Game 2: Sunday, 1:37 p.m.
Game 3: Monday (if needed), 8:07 p.m.
Times in brackets are Central Time, with games starting 7 minutes after the listed times.
| Date(s) | Day/ month | Times/ scores | Opponent (current rank) | Record/ TV * |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | ||||
| 13–14 | Fri., Sat. | W, 9–4; W, 12–2 (7); W, 4–3 (11) | vs. Indiana | 3–0 |
| 17 | Tuesday | W, 10–0 (7) | vs. Richmond | 4–0 |
| 18 | Wednesday | W, 5–3 | vs. Longwood | 5–0 |
| 20–22 | Fri.-Sun | W, 10–0 (8); L, 10–3; T, 3–3 | vs. East Carolina | 6–1–1 |
| 24 | Tuesday | W, 9–1 | vs. N.C. A&T | 7–1–1 |
| 25 | Wednesday | W, 13–3 (7) | vs. VCU | 8–1–1 |
| 27–28 | Fri., Sat. | W, 16–3 (7); W, 12–2 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 10–1–1 |
| March | ||||
| 1 | Sunday | W, 21–1 (7) | vs. Le Moyne | 11–1–1 |
| 3 | Tuesday | W, 5–1 | vs. Elon | 12–1–1 |
| 6–7 | Fri., Sat | L, 13–3 (7); L, 9–2; W, 8–7 (12) | vs. Virginia | 13–3–1, 1–2 ACC |
| 10 | Tuesday | W, 13–3 (7) | vs. Bucknell | 14–3–1 |
| 13–15 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 8–1; W, 6–2; W, 10–2 | at California | 17–3–1, 4–2 |
| 18 | Wednesday | W, 8–2 | vs. UNCG | 18–3–1 |
| 20–22 | Fri.–Sun. | W, 11–1 (8); L, 2–0; W, 7–6 | vs. Louisville | 20–4–1, 6–3 |
| 24 | Tuesday | W, 9–1 | vs. South Carolina in Charlotte | 21–4–1 |
| 28, 29 | Sat., Sun | W, 6–5; W, 13–7; W, 15–10 | at Notre Dame | 24–4–1, 9–3 |
| 31 | Tuesday | W, 5–4 (14) | vs. Campbell | 25–4–1 |
| April | ||||
| 2–4 | Thur.-Sat. | L, 6–1; W, 5–2; W, 8–7 | vs. Boston College | 27–5–1, 11–4 |
| 7 | Tuesday | W, 8–4 | vs. Charlotte | 28–5–1 |
| 10–12 | Fri.–Sun. | L, 9–5; W, 6–4 (14); W, 12–5 | at Clemson | 30–6–1, 13–5 |
| 14 | Tuesday | W, 14–5 | vs. UNCW | 31–6–1 |
| 17–19 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 5–2; W, 14–4 (8); L, 5–2 | vs. No. 2 Georgia Tech | 33–7–1, 15–6 |
| 21 | Tuesday | W, 9–2 | vs. High Point | 34–7–1 |
| 23–25 | Thur.–Sat. | W, 3–1; L, 3–1; W, 22–5 (7) | at Duke | 36–8–1, 17–7 |
| 28 | Tuesday | L, 12–2 | vs. Coastal Carolina | 36–9–1 |
| May | ||||
| 3 | Sunday | W, 13–0 (7) (non-conference game) | vs. Duke | 37–9–1 |
| 8–10 | Fri.-Sun. | W, 4–1; W, 12–2 (8); W, 7–3 | vs. Pittsburgh | 40–9–1, 20–7 |
| 12 | Tuesday | W, 13–7 | at UNCW | 41–9–1 |
| 14–16 | Thur.-Sat. | W, 9–4; W, 17–7 (8); L, 7–2 | at N.C. State | 43–10–1, 22–8 |
| ACC tournament | Charlotte | |||
| 22 | Friday | W, 10–4 | Quarterfinal vs. Virginia Tech | 44–10–1 |
| 23 | Saturday | W, 13–5 | Semifinal vs. Pittsburgh | 45–10–1 |
| 24 | Sunday | L, 13–6 | Championship vs. No. 2 Ga. Tech | 45–11–1 |
| NCAA tournament | ||||
| Chapel Hill Regional | ||||
| 29 | Friday | W, 8–0 | VCU | 46–11–1 |
| 30–31 | Sat.–Sun. | W, 7–5, W, 9–3 | East Carolina | 48–11–1 |
| June | ||||
| Chapel Hill Super Regionals | ||||
| 5–7 | Fri.–Sun. | L, 9–5, W, 4–0, W, 4–3 | Southern Cal | 50–12–1 |
| College World Series | Omaha, Neb. | |||
| 12 | Friday | W, 6–2 | No. 18 Ole Miss | 51–12–1 |
| 14 | Sunday | W, 5–2 | No. 9 West Virginia | 52–12–1 |
| 17 | Wednesday | 2:07 p.m. | No. 9 West Virginia | ESPN |
| 18 | Thursday | 2:07 or 7:06 | No. 9 West Virginia (if UNC loses Wed.) | ESPN |
| 20–22 | Sat.-Mon | 8:07, 1:37, 8:07 (if needed) | CWS Finals (if UNC wins Wed. or Thursday) | ESPN, ABC, ESPN |
Photo via @NCAABaseball
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