Kirk Kenney - Cnnsi.com - picks LSU over Oregon St

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LSU (57-9)

Tigers fans enjoy partying at the College World Series so much that many of them travel to Omaha even when the team doesn't make it. Imagine how excited fans were this season to watch a team that showed all the signs of getting back to the CWS for the first time since beating Texas for the 2009 national championship. LSU won 33 of its first 35 games to open the season, went 23-7 in SEC play and beat Vanderbilt for the SEC Tournament title. Sophomore Aaron Nola (12-0, 1.68 ERA, 117 Ks in 118 IP) and junior Ryan Eades (8-1, 2.79 ERA), both righties, comprise one of the nation's best 1-2 starting punches and senior lefty Chris Cotton (4-1, 1.23 ERA, 16 SV) is among the country's most effective closers. An offense averaging 6.6 runs per game is led by senior second baseman Mason Katz (.366, 15 HR, 68 RBIs), freshman shortstop Alex Bregman (.380, 6 HR, 52 RBIs) and senior outfielder Raph Rhymes (.343, 4 HR, 46 RBIs).

Drafted players: Eades (Twins, 2nd); CF JaCoby Jones (Pirates, 3rd); Katz (Cardinals, 4th); RHP Nick Rumbelow (Yankees, 7th); RHP Will LaMarche (Tigers, 9th); C Ty Ross (Giants, 12th); Cotton (Astros, 14th); OF Raph Rhymes (Tigers, 15th); INF Christian Ibarra (Pirates, 32nd).

One to watch: Bregman earned SEC Freshman of the Year after leading the conference in hits (102), triples (7) and total bases (151). LSU coach Paul Mainieri told The Advocate: "Not only is he the best freshman I've ever had, he might end up being the best player I've ever had -- and I mean in his freshman year."

How they got here: The Tigers swept through the Baton Rouge Regional by beating Jackson State, Sam Houston State and Louisiana-Lafayette. LSU then dispatched Oklahoma with 2-0 and 11-1 wins in the Baton Rouge Super Regional.

CWS history: The Tigers are one of the nation's most storied college programs. They first reached Omaha in 1986, beginning a string of 10 CWS appearances in 13 years. LSU's six national championships (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009) are second only to USC's 12 titles.

Well-known alum: Ben McDonald.

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Prediction

LSU over Oregon State

Experience counts in Omaha, and both of these teams are guided by coaches who have won national championships. Beyond that, both the Tigers and Beavers have the pitching depth and offensive balance to reach the finals. Once there, the Tigers will prevail because they don't have a weakness and have dispatched all challengers this season while playing in the loaded SEC.

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