College World Series: Power ranking the eight teams in Omaha. Where does LSU rank?

USA Today

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College World Series: Power ranking the eight teams in Omaha. Where does LSU rank?
The College World Series is a championship like no other. Eight teams travel to Omaha with the aim of winning a national title. It's a 10-day event that features two four-team double-elimination brackets followed by a best-of-three championship series.
The 2025 field features some fresh faces. No team from the 2024 CWS made it back this year. However, most of these teams aren't strangers to Omaha. LSU is back for the second time in three years after winning the national championship in 2023.
West Coast powers like Arizona, UCLA, and Oregon State are here, too. Coastal Carolina has been to Omaha just once before, but it won the national title in 2016. Louisville is also familiar with the CWS, making its sixth appearance since 2007.
Then there's Arkansas, a perennial contender chasing its first-ever national championship. You have your Cinderella story, too, with Murray State making its first CWS trip in program history.
The action will begin on Friday, but before we get underway, let's rank the eight teams in the 2025 College World Series.
8. Murray State Racers
This is no slight on Murray State in the midst of its historic run. What the Racers have done so far is incredible. Murray State has 44 wins, upset Ole Miss and Georgia Tech in the regional, and upset Duke in the super regional. The Ohio Valley from Kentucky plays in a home stadium that fits just 800. Now, it's playing in the College World Series.
Don't underestimate this squad, but from a power ratings standpoint, they're the longest shot in Omaha. Per BetMGM, the Racers' national title odds are +3000.
With Jonathan Hogart and Carson Garner, Murray State has some hitters that can hit it out of the park. Dom Decker and Justin Mercer are hit machines, too. But the pitching is a huge question mark.
Murray State has won a few shootouts to get here, but that style of play won't work with the quality of pitcher it will face in Omaha.
7. Louisville Cardinals
Louisville made it to Omaha despite losing its last three series of the regular season and being one-and-done in the ACC Tournament. The Cardinals have since turned it around, winning the Nashville Regional and beating Miami in a three-game Super Regional.
But I have too many questions about this Cardinals squad to label them a contender. Louisville's ERA of 5.35 ranks 12th in the ACC, and the Cardinals allow 5.9 runs per game.
There are things to like. Louisville has 155 steals and ranks fifth in the ACC in slugging, but I don't think it has enough to overcome the pitching woes.
Louisville has a tough opener vs. Oregon State. If Louisville loses, it doesn't have the tools to climb out of the losers' bracket.
6. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona has won 10 of its last 11 games entering Omaha. But the recent success came right on the heels of a stretch where Arizona dropped five of six.
Arizona's run is impressive, but the Wildcats have been inconsistent vs. top competition this year. Arizona began its schedule 0-3, losing to Ole Miss, Clemson, and Louisville. Later in the year, Arizona dropped a game vs. Tennessee.
The Wildcats' run differential also ranks in the bottom half of the Big 12. They do a little bit of everything, but there's not one elite unit that can carry this team.
Arizona has a few guys that can hit it out of the park, but the lineup doesn't walk enough, and it's prone to strikeouts. That will hurt the Wildcats when facing teams like Coastal Carolina and Oregon State.
5. UCLA Bruins
UCLA is 47-16 on the year and ranks No. 11 nationally in the Massey Ratings. Playing in the Big Ten, the Bruins didn't face the same caliber of schedule as some other teams in Omaha did. Their NCAA Tournament path has been on the easier side too, facing UTSA in the super regional.
UCLA gets another favorable matchup in its CWS opener with Murray State on the docket. But UCLA must face LSU or Arkansas in its second contest. We'll find out a lot about this Bruins squad then.
Expect to see quality at-bats from this lineup. UCLA ranked second in the Big Ten in batting average, takes walks, and avoids strikeouts. The path for UCLA involves stringing hits together, but that won't come easy vs. the LSU and Arkansas pitching staffs.
4. Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State is making its first trip to Omaha since 2018 as the three-time champ looks to add a fourth trophy to the case.
Oregon State ranks No. 7 nationally in the Massey Ratings. Its offense and pitching/defense both rank in the top 10.
The Beavers had to play without a conference this year after the PAC-12 fell apart, forcing them to throw an independent schedule together. The strength of that slate was weaker than a few of their Omaha peers, but they've passed every test in the postseason.
The Beavers' lineup is dangerous. The only team in the CWS field with more homers than Oregon State is Arkansas. The group is led by shortstop Aiva Arquette, a potential top-five MLB draft pick. On the mound, Dax Whitney and Ethan Kleinschmidt give Oregon State two formidable starters who can duel it out with anyone in the field.
Oregon State is favored to win its opening game vs. Arizona.
3. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Coastal Carolina is making its second trip to Omaha. The only time it was here before, the Chanticleers won it all in 2016. Now, Coastal arrives in Omaha as the hottest team in baseball, riding a 23-game win streak.
Coming from the Sun Belt, there are naturally questions about how CCU will fare vs. top competition, but the Chanticleers have come through when tested. The 23-game win streak includes a win at Clemson and a super regional sweep of Auburn.
The Massey Ratings slot Coastal as the fourth-best team in the sport, and the Chants are the favorite to win their side of the bracket. The pitching staff is among the best in the country, and the lineup is deep. They do the little things, too, leading the SBC in stolen bases and fielding percentage.
LSU has been here before. The Tigers have won seven national championships. Several players on this team were members of the 2023 squad that won it all.
Per BetMGM, LSU ranks No. 2 on the title odds board with +220 odds to win the championship.
The Tigers have the pieces to capture the trophy. The one-two starting pitching punch of Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson is hard to beat. And LSU's lineup is riding high after scoring 28 combined runs vs. West Virginia in the super regional.
1. Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks are the betting favorites to win the national title, and they take the top spot in our power rankings. Arkansas is led by long-time head coach Dave Van Horn, but it's yet to capture the elusive national championship. Perhaps, this is the Razorbacks' best chance yet.
Led by ace Zach Root, Arkansas has the deepest pitching staff in the field -- that goes for the starting rotation and the bullpen. The group is battle tested after competing in the SEC, baseball's best conference.
At the plate, Wehiwa Aloy is arguably the top position player in Omaha. He headlines a lineup that can do damage one through nine.
Arkansas has looked like a juggernaut at times this year. It had the occasional slump, but so did every team that faced SEC pitching each week. Arkansas' status as the favorite this week is well earned.