SEC (8 Predicted Hosts)
Locks: Texas (3), Auburn (4), Texas A&M (8)
Near Locks: Georgia (21)
Work to Do: Alabama (6), Ole Miss (7), Florida (12), Oklahoma (16), Mississippi State (18)
It feels funny to have two top 8 RPI teams in the "work to do" category but here we are. The SEC should get 8 of the 16 host teams, and five teams are going after four host spots, including State. Georgia is in the near lock category only because a collapse with that RPI could quickly move them out, but they are a national seed even with the low RPI if they win the SEC.
ACC (3-4 Predicted Hosts)
Locks: Georgia Tech (2), North Carolina (5), Florida State (9)
Work to Do: Virginia (20), Boston College (27)
The ACC isn't quite as competitive as the SEC, but they have just as many host locks. A fourth team in the ACC could host, and while Virginia looks to be that team at the moment, Boston College is 31-13 (14-7) and just two games behind Georgia Tech for the ACC lead. They host the Jackets in the last weekend series, and with a manageable schedule before then, BC is worth watching because you know the NCAA would like to throw a regional in the Northeast.
Big Ten (1-2 Predicted Hosts)
Locks: UCLA (1)
Work to Do: Nebraska (13), Southern California (15), Oregon (26)
The B1G likely gets 2 this year with Nebraska and USC fighting for the second spot behind UCLA, who is currently 21-0 in the conference. Nebraska just swept USC and has the upper hand barring a collapse against a bad schedule down the stretch. Oregon's RPI may be too low but they are certainly capable of making a run.
Sun Belt (1 Predicted Host)
Work to Do: Southern Miss (10), Coastal Carolina (14)
Coastal has a 4 game lead on USM, despite USM having a better RPI and better wins. I don't think the SBC will get 2, so its a shame these two didn't have a weekend series)
With just 1-2 host spots remaining, here's a look at who is competing
Near Lock: Oregon State (11)
Missouri State (17)
Kansas (19)
Liberty (22)
UC Santa Barbara (25)
Oregon State is a near lock and if there is only 1 spot remaining, they have it. If the Big 10 or ACC can't get the extra host spot, a team like Kansas who will win the Big 12 comes into play. G5s Missouri State, Liberty and UCSB will be considered, but likely will be tough 2 seeds somewhere.
Locks: Texas (3), Auburn (4), Texas A&M (8)
Near Locks: Georgia (21)
Work to Do: Alabama (6), Ole Miss (7), Florida (12), Oklahoma (16), Mississippi State (18)
It feels funny to have two top 8 RPI teams in the "work to do" category but here we are. The SEC should get 8 of the 16 host teams, and five teams are going after four host spots, including State. Georgia is in the near lock category only because a collapse with that RPI could quickly move them out, but they are a national seed even with the low RPI if they win the SEC.
ACC (3-4 Predicted Hosts)
Locks: Georgia Tech (2), North Carolina (5), Florida State (9)
Work to Do: Virginia (20), Boston College (27)
The ACC isn't quite as competitive as the SEC, but they have just as many host locks. A fourth team in the ACC could host, and while Virginia looks to be that team at the moment, Boston College is 31-13 (14-7) and just two games behind Georgia Tech for the ACC lead. They host the Jackets in the last weekend series, and with a manageable schedule before then, BC is worth watching because you know the NCAA would like to throw a regional in the Northeast.
Big Ten (1-2 Predicted Hosts)
Locks: UCLA (1)
Work to Do: Nebraska (13), Southern California (15), Oregon (26)
The B1G likely gets 2 this year with Nebraska and USC fighting for the second spot behind UCLA, who is currently 21-0 in the conference. Nebraska just swept USC and has the upper hand barring a collapse against a bad schedule down the stretch. Oregon's RPI may be too low but they are certainly capable of making a run.
Sun Belt (1 Predicted Host)
Work to Do: Southern Miss (10), Coastal Carolina (14)
Coastal has a 4 game lead on USM, despite USM having a better RPI and better wins. I don't think the SBC will get 2, so its a shame these two didn't have a weekend series)
With just 1-2 host spots remaining, here's a look at who is competing
Near Lock: Oregon State (11)
Missouri State (17)
Kansas (19)
Liberty (22)
UC Santa Barbara (25)
Oregon State is a near lock and if there is only 1 spot remaining, they have it. If the Big 10 or ACC can't get the extra host spot, a team like Kansas who will win the Big 12 comes into play. G5s Missouri State, Liberty and UCSB will be considered, but likely will be tough 2 seeds somewhere.