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2018 NCAA Baseball Tournament Preview: Road to Omaha

By Neil Harrington

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: The University of Florida players run onto the field in celebration after defeating Louisiana State University 6-1 in game two of the Division I Men's Baseball Championship held at TD Ameritrade Park on June 27, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 27: The University of Florida players run onto the field in celebration after defeating Louisiana State University 6-1 in game two of the Division I Men's Baseball Championship held at TD Ameritrade Park on June 27, 2017 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS – MARCH 27: An interior general view of Target Field during the first college baseball game played at the stadium between the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the Minnesota Golden Gophers on March 27, 2010, at Target Field. Louisiana Tech won 9-1. Attendance was recorded as 36,056. The opening day MLB game is scheduled to be played on April 12, 2010. (Photo by Wayne Kryduba/Getty Images) /

Minneapolis Regional

  1. Minnesota (40-13)  RPI: 13 — Big 10 Reg Season & Tournament champs (Last bid 2017)
  2. UCLA (36-19)  RPI: 26 — At-large Pac-12 (Last bid 2017)
  3. Gonzaga (32-22)  RPI: 62 — WCC Reg Season & Tournament champs (Last bid 2016)
  4. Canisius (35-20)  RPI: 133 — Auto-bid MAAC (Last bid 2015)

CTTP Predicted winner: UCLA

The Minnesota Gophers are the real deal, winning the Big 10 wire to wire. One reason for their success is Big 10 Freshman and Pitcher of the Year Patrick Fredrickson (7-0, 1.44 ERA). They also have a lineup boasting seven .300 or better hitters.

UCLA is a very dangerous two-seed, who is battle-tested by playing a tough Pac-12 conference. They rely on starter Jake Bird (1.99 ERA to anchor their staff.

Playing away from the friendly confines of Jackie Robinson Stadium does not bode well for the Bruins, are a .500 team away from home.

Gonzaga is more than a basketball school and boasts one of the top pitching staffs in NCAA Baseball (2.71 ERA). Daniel Bies is a menacing six-foot-eight presence and will take the ball in game one.

Canisius only chance of doing anything of worth is if Liam Wilson ( .360/.440/.640. and nine home runs) catches fire.

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