Regional weekend starts now. Brackets locked at 10:30 a.m. CT. First pitch follows at 11. Thirty-two opening games spread across sixteen sites — every one a 1-4 or 2-3 seed matchup — and the whole postseason machine is finally moving.
Here is our read on every Friday opener, slot by slot.
11 a.m. CT
Liberty at Boston College (Athens Regional — 2 vs. 3)
This is a legitimate 2-3 game — better than your typical regional opener. Both teams can pitch, and neither is walking into Foley Field just happy to be here. Liberty had a strong year. Boston College is a decent ACC outfit. Georgia is the host and the favorite to win the pod, but this 2-3 game could be competitive before the Bulldogs take the night slot.
Pick: Boston College
Tennessee vs. East Carolina (Chapel Hill Regional — 2 vs. 3)
The story here is the mound. East Carolina is going with Ryan Towers, not Ethan Norby — Norby threw 99 pitches in the AAC tournament championship Sunday and is more likely to be available out of the bullpen. Tennessee counters with Evan Blanco, not ace Tegan Kuhns. That keeps Norby in play as a factor if Cliff Godwin needs him, but on paper this is not the Norby-vs.-Henry Ford duel everyone was expecting.
Still, this is one of those regional openers where the winner feels like it has a real shot to win the whole pod. Chapel Hill is loaded, but Tennessee-ECU has that winner's-bracket energy from the jump.
Pick: Tennessee
Kentucky vs. Wake Forest (Morgantown Regional — 2 vs. 3)
Another 2-3 game worth setting an alarm for. Kentucky has not officially named a starter, but everything points to Jaxon Jelkin — and if the Wildcats run their ace out there, they have a puncher's chance against a Wake Forest lineup that can hit. If the Demon Deacons find a way to beat Jelkin, though, this regional starts tilting toward Chris Levonas and the Deacs.
Pick: Wake Forest
Also at 11 a.m.: Georgia Tech over UIC. The Jackets won the ACC Tournament and enter as the No. 2 national seed. UIC is overmatched on paper.
Noon CT
Texas vs. Holy Cross (Austin Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Luke Harrison gets the ball for the Longhorns. Texas needs efficient innings from the left-hander — eat some outs, keep the pitch count reasonable, and leave the pen fresh for the rest of the weekend. Holy Cross is not a pushover; Jaden Wywoda leads the nation in complete games and just carried the Crusaders through the Patriot League tournament. Still, at Disch-Falk, with Harrison's experience and Texas' depth behind him, the home team should advance comfortably.
Pick: Texas
Kansas vs. Northeastern (Lawrence Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Northeastern is a solid program, not a free pass. But Kansas has been hot, just won the Big 12, and is hosting for a reason. The Jayhawks should run away with the opener — before the much harder problem of Arkansas arrives.
Pick: Kansas
Southern Miss vs. Little Rock (Hattiesburg Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Southern Miss is the No. 9 national seed hosting at Pete Taylor Park. Little Rock fought to get here. The Golden Eagles take Game 1.
Pick: Southern Miss
Also at noon: Auburn over Milwaukee and Florida over Rider. Milwaukee and Rider earned their bids through conference tournaments. Auburn and Florida are top-eight seeds at home. One seeds roll.
1 p.m. CT
Lipscomb at Mississippi State (Starkville Regional — 1 vs. 4)
The Dogs at the Dude on a Friday afternoon. Mississippi State has Tomas Valincius and enough depth to handle a Lipscomb team that earned its bid. This one runs through Starkville.
Pick: Mississippi State
USC Upstate at Oklahoma State (Tuscaloosa Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Upstate is not a bad team. Oklahoma State has shown flashes all spring and has a chance to get hot now that the games actually count. The Cowboys roll in the opener.
Pick: Oklahoma State
2 p.m. CT — Host Favorites
Saint Mary's at UCLA (Los Angeles Regional — 1 vs. 4)
One seed rolls. UCLA is the No. 1 overall seed for a reason.
Pick: UCLA
St. John's at Florida State (Tallahassee Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Same story. Wes Mendes gives Florida State a reliable Friday arm, and the Seminoles should handle the Red Storm.
Pick: Florida State
Washington State at Oregon State (Eugene Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Oregon State is the team to beat in Eugene. We have the Beavers winning this regional, and it starts with showing up in Game 1 against Washington State.
Pick: Oregon State
3 p.m. CT
Lamar at Texas A&M (College Station Regional — 1 vs. 4)
This has trap-game energy. Lamar can pitch, and Texas A&M is still stewing over slipping out of the top-eight seed line. The Aggies should win Game 1 — but the team that actually worries us in this pod is USC, not the Cardinals.
Pick: Texas A&M
South Dakota State at Nebraska (Lincoln Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Nebraska at home against a Jackrabbits team making the trek. The Huskers take the opener, even though the real test in this regional is waiting behind them.
Pick: Nebraska
4 p.m. CT
The Citadel at Oklahoma (Atlanta Regional — 2 vs. 3)
This is the callout in the 4 p.m. slot. Oklahoma has been hot and cold all year. Some of the Sooners' arms have had real peaks and valleys. The Citadel can pitch, and if Oklahoma's starter is not sharp, this regional could get uncomfortable fast for the higher seed.
Pick: The Citadel
Also at 4 p.m.: Georgia over LIU, North Carolina over VCU, and West Virginia over Binghamton. One seeds roll at home. The drama in Chapel Hill and Morgantown is in the 2-3 games that already went off at 11.
5 p.m. CT
Missouri State at Arkansas (Lawrence Regional — 2 vs. 3)
Arkansas did not get a host spot, but Hunter Dietz and Camden Kozeal give the Razorbacks enough firepower to make Kansas nervous all weekend. The Hogs take Game 1.
Pick: Arkansas
NC State at UCF (Auburn Regional — 2 vs. 3)
This is a good matchup — maybe the most interesting game in the Auburn pod. UCF is live at the plate, and NC State has enough to compete. We lean UCF in a tight one at John Euliano Park.
Pick: UCF
Troy at Miami (Gainesville Regional — 2 vs. 3)
Miami should win, but Troy has enough Sun Belt punch to make the Canes work for it. The Trojans will put up a fight before Florida's side of the bracket gets involved.
Pick: Miami
Tarleton State at UC Santa Barbara (Austin Regional — 2 vs. 3)
Jackson Flora gets the ball. Tarleton does not stand a chance. Flora has a 1.05 ERA and 124 strikeouts — the best run-prevention arm in the field — and the Gauchos are not saving him for later. Kellan Montgomery and Nathan Aceves give Andrew Checketts depth behind Flora if the bracket gets weird, but this is Flora's game to lose.
Pick: UC Santa Barbara
6 p.m. CT
Alabama State at Alabama (Tuscaloosa Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Alabama at home on a Friday night. The Tide should roll.
Pick: Alabama
Louisiana at Cincinnati (Starkville Regional — 2 vs. 3)
One of the best games on the board. Quinton Coats brings 28 home runs into Starkville — one of the top power numbers in the country — and Cincinnati has enough pitching to make this uncomfortable for the higher seed. Louisiana's lineup found its stroke in Montgomery, with Donovan LaSalle and Lee Amedee swinging it. We still like the Ragin' Cajuns in a game that could come down to one big swing.
Pick: Louisiana
Jacksonville State at Virginia (Hattiesburg Regional — 2 vs. 3)
Jacksonville State has upset credentials and will compete. Virginia does not have Brian O'Connor, but the Cavaliers still have pedigree and enough pitching to win Game 1.
Pick: Virginia
7 p.m. CT
Yale at Oregon (Eugene Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Some people are high on Yale, and the Bulldogs have a solid arm in their rotation. Oregon is the host, though, and we will take the Ducks regardless of who gets the Friday start.
Pick: Oregon
Northern Illinois at Coastal Carolina (Tallahassee Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Coastal Carolina is always a tough postseason out. Northern Illinois is not. The Chanticleers win.
Pick: Coastal Carolina
Cal Poly at Virginia Tech (Los Angeles Regional — 1 vs. 4)
Cal Poly had a strong year and can hit. In a regional headlined by UCLA, this one matters less for the big picture — but we like the Mustangs to take Game 1 against Virginia Tech.
Pick: Cal Poly
8 p.m. CT — Nightcap Doubleheader
Texas State at USC (College Station Regional — 2 vs. 3)
Andy Stankiewicz is saving Mason Edwards for Saturday and a potential Texas A&M matchup. Grant Govel gets the ball against Texas State on Friday — a solid No. 2 who matches up well against a physical Bobcats lineup. Andrew Johnson is another option if the Trojans need innings later in the weekend. USC still has the pitching edge in this opener even without the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year on the mound.
Pick: USC
Arizona State at Ole Miss (Lincoln Regional — 2 vs. 3)
This is the game. We think the winner of Ole Miss-Arizona State wins the whole Lincoln Regional. Landon Hairston can change a game by himself — .413 average, 28 homers, 1.415 OPS — and the Sun Devils have enough thump to stay close. Ole Miss' bullpen and lineup depth carry them in a tight one.
Pick: Ole Miss
Final Thought
Friday is about survival. The one seeds need to roll. The 2-3 games are where the real drama lives — Tennessee-ECU and Kentucky-Wake at 11, Citadel-Oklahoma at 4, Cincinnati-Louisiana at 6, and Ole Miss-Arizona State at 8.
Win Game 1 and the bracket opens up. Lose it and the whole weekend gets harder before Saturday's second wave even arrives.