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Friday, April 10, 2009

Regional Projections: Week Three

The Buckeyes come into this weekend's series with Michigan State at 23-7 overall. The Bucks have saw their winning clip take a slight bump, splitting its last 6 games overall, highlighted by going 1-2 last weekend against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Though many might be quick to jump of the wagon with a slight hiccup, and with playing 27 of your first 29 away on the road, hiccups will happen, the Buckeyes are still in great position for postseason play either via an at-large bid or through the Big Ten auto-bid.

According to Boyd's World, the Bucks RPI currently sits at 23, which is right on par with the last 2 weeks, though dropping some from the mid-teens, 23 is very respectable and attractive when the chance to host a regional is in play. Minnesota currently sits at 21, and taking only 1 of 3 against a team that high obviously did not hurt the Bucks in the computers. Though it did in the human polls.

Hosting a regional, is more than in play for the Bucks, as SEBaseball.com has Ohio State has a #2 seed in the Columbus Regional, that has Hawaii as the #1 seed, Alabama as the #3 seed, and Kent State as the #4 seed. Interesting that SEBaseball projects OSU to receive an at-large bid, as part of three Big Ten teams advancing to the NCAA tournament. The Bucks are predicted to join Minnesota as an at-large, while Illinois is expected to receive the auto-bid.

SEBaseball Regional Projections

Rivals/Yahoo College Baseball has Ohio State not hosting a regional, but still easily in the tournament as a #2 seed in the Norman Regional. Host Oklahoma is the #1 seed, Florida is the #3 seed, and Oral Roberts rounds out the group as the #4 seed.

Rivals feels the same as SEBaseball when it comes to the Big Ten's NCAA chances, as Minnesota receives an at-large bid, and Illinois again is seen as the eventually auto-bid recipient.

Rivals Regional Projection

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