College World Series Bracket 1 Preview: Florida, Virginia, TCU, Oral Roberts

The field of 8 is set for the 2023 College World Series. Previewing TCU's side of the bracket, including Florida, Virginia, and Oral Roberts.

© Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The TCU Horned Frogs are Omaha bound. They locked up a spot in the 2023 College World Series, being grouped in Bracket 1 with Florida, Virginia, and Oral Roberts. While challenging, TCU did avoid the "group of death" that includes LSU, Wake Forest, Stanford, and Tennessee. Not to say TCU's side of the CWS is easy – it's not. But it could be a whole lot worse.

TCU seeks their first-ever CWS final in their sixth trip to Omaha. Let's review who they have to go through to get there.

College World Series Bracket 1 Preview

There's a clear top two teams on this side: the Florida Gators (50-15) and Virginia Cavaliers (50-13). Both teams hosted a regional and blew through their Super Regional opponents behind strong hitting and shutdown pitching. Florida swept South Carolina, shutting them out in the clinching game, and Virginia outscored Duke 26-6 in the final two games of their Super.

Florida's top threat comes in the form of two-way player Jac Caglianone. He's 7-3 as a pitcher with a 3.78 ERA and also holds the program record for home runs hit in a single season (31 and counting). While immensely talented, Florida has the second-worst wOBA in the CWS field (.413) and the Gators averaged just 5.3 runs in this tournament. However, they're allowing a paltry 1.7 per game, including three shutouts.

Virginia gives the scoreboard a bit more of a workout. They punished Duke pitchers who tried to throw fastballs, turning the Supers into batting practice. Third baseman Jake Gelof leads the Hoos with 23 home runs and 89 RBI this season. On the other side, just one pitcher with more than 15 IP this season has an ERA over 4.00. Their primary three starters combine for a 29-5 record.

The one question with UVA is whether they can play the same on the road. This year, they posted a 35-5 record at home and 15-8 record on the road.

The Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (51-12) are the first No. 4 tournament seed to make the College World Series in a decade. Their bats came alive in the tournament, scoring 10 runs per game since the start of their conference tournament. However, Oral Roberts has just a +11 run differential this tournament and they required a good bit of luck to advance.

What It'll Take For TCU To Advance

Momentum is a powerful weapon in the college baseball postseason and TCU has plenty of it. From electric hitting in the Fayetteville Regional to lockdown pitching in the Super Regional, the Horned Frogs have shown an ability to win in a variety of ways.

As with all postseason tournaments, the road gets no easier from here. TCU has not played a team capable of hitting fastballs like Virginia, nor a team with as much all-around talent as Florida, nor a team with as much forward momentum as Oral Roberts. Each of their three opponents in Bracket 1 presents a different and unique challenge.

In a double-elimination style tournament, this high-level, more arms than just Kole Klecker and Sam Stoutenborough to advance. Relievers like Ben Abeldt have to play their best baseball of the season.

Against Florida's staff, Brayden Taylor, Karson Bowen, and Anthony Silva have to all be on at the same time. Cole Fontenelle must also continue his hot streak from the Supers, where he bat 5-for-7 with four extra-base hits and two homers.

But, above all, it'll take luck. No championship team achieves its goal without lucky breaks. Perhaps their draw in the CWS is the required luck.

Bracket 1 Schedule

Game 1: TCU vs. Oral Roberts, June 16, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Game 2: Florida vs. Virginia, June 16, 6:00 p.m. CT (ESPN)

Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, June 18, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Game 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, June 18, 6:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2)

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser, June 20, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPN)

Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, June 21, 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPN)

Game 13: If Game 9 winner also wins Game 11, June 22, TBA

Bracket 1 winner plays the Bracket 2 winner in a best-of-three series beginning June 24.

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