The major conference fix is in at the beginning of every season when those most recognizable schools play about 20 of their first 25 games at home to start the year. By doing so they obviously win a large portion of those games which establishes them in the rankings. From there all they have to do is hold their ground. Once they get into conference play there’s a RPI trade off win or lose because all the major schools are interchangeable. NCAA 1A baseball is ‘almost’ as rigged as the top level of football (whatever it’s called). Almost in that about every 6 years a big baseball underdog makes a significant showing.
What's more the inflated rating of every P5 team lends itself to increasing their RPI when they play in-conference. An SEC team might have a losing conference record but the powers-that-be say, well, look who they played, other SEC teams! A middle-of-the-pack SEC team might not be better than a 3rd, 4th, maybe even a 5th place CUSA team, in a given year. But if they finish 8th or 9th in the SEC with a mediocre overall record of 32-24, why they have a really good shot at garnering an at-large bid. And yes, the benefit of playing so many home OOC games helps their cause as well.
I probably didn't explain that very well...
My pick to win it all, Vandy, has advanced to the CWS. Meanwhile there is no joy in Tigger Town...
(that's them crying, not me)
I must say, watching FSU celebrate in Baton Rouge was pretty satisfying.
CWS might come down to FSU vs Vandy for all the marbles.
Vandy's been my pick to win it all since mid-season. But, Florida State is a bit of surprise to me. They're "good" sure, but I had concerns over their pitching and defense. Yet! they seem to have found both since the playoffs started.
I felt the Hogs had several coaching errors in their game with FSU -
And Martin gambled and won by not throwing van Eyk in their first game after he was so domiate in Baton Rouge
Auburn snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Moo U
I still miss the old park though
''Don't be a bad dagh..."
If the old park, Rosenblatt??? whatever it is...can be made playable...does it even still exist? If it does, and can be made usable, it would be cool to play one of the best 2 of 3 final games at it.
I remember, as both a player and a fan, games at Pete Goldsby Field in Baton Rouge and at the old stadium in Donaldsonville. Nostalgic facilities. Made from wood. They would crack and squeak when the wind blew or too many people walked at the same time. Hah! But they were....well, baseball!
Down goes the third SEC team - Miss St, Auburn and Arkansas are all gone...
Vandy remains as the lone team and they are very very good
''Don't be a bad dagh..."
Vandy vs. Michigan in the finals. A Big 10 team? This is pretty rare. Michigan is actually good though. I'm sticking with my original pick of Vandy, whose bandwagon I jumped on back in March when I picked them to win it all.
That kid from Louisville made Vandy look pretty ordinary last night. Michigan has looked pretty solid and I won't be too shocked if they win it all.