A Wild Late Night at CWS And What a Final Four
At this point I know you guys are shocked to read that Day 6 was yet another fun and memorable day at the College World Series. Let's just dive right into it….
Thanks again to DJ’s Dugout for hosting us all week for Picks Central in downtown Omaha. We had another good show yesterday. The staff and owners have been extremely welcoming and I am already excited for today’s show at 10:55 central to preview an incredible final four! I threw Brandon Walker for a loop on the show when I said that the rain in Virginia/Miss State changed the vibe and energy in the stadium on Wed night when the Bulldogs were hitless. I am really big into energy shifts and he thought I had lost my mind! It is so funny how different our brains and personalities are which is why it works. Carl, Brandon and me will be hosting the show today with TJ Hitchings producing to preview the matchups and storylines of the final four (Vandy/NC State and Texas/Miss State).
Brandon Walker, Marty Mush, Carl and I got invited to tour the University of Nebraska by the Assistant Athletic Director who was an old friend of Carl’s. We made the 45 min drive over to Lincoln right after Picks Central and were once again greeted with amazing hospitality which seems to be a theme in Nebraska at this point. I enjoyed checking out the history of the famous Nebraska program. I grew up in the 90s when the Huskers won 3 national titles in 4 years and it was cool to relive that history. Thanks to Nebraska athletic department for hosting us.
We had a blast hanging out with the managers, players and assistant AD. Marty Mush and me did this After Dinner Mintz on the 50 yard line.
We hit up Honest Abe’s in downtown Lincoln for burgers and freedom after and somehow the 1997 Egg Bowl was on TV when Brandon Walker and I sat down. Love the signs from the universe….too funny.
The weather looked rough so I went back to Ameristar Council Bluffs to chill for a bit and regroup. It has been a long week here so the down time was huge for me. The Texas/Virginia 6pm game was delayed til 9:30pm start. I was so happy about how this worked out as I LOVE late nights at the ballpark in the summertime. The energy is totally different and more fun plus no heat.
When I got to TD Ameritrade, it was exactly as I hoped. The fans had boozed real heavy in the rain delay and the Texas section was rowdy! I got recognized by a ton of Horns fans and it was an absolute blast. The night time is the right time! Once again we had another great night game. It was a 2-2 battle headed to the top of the 8th when the clock struck midnight.
I was feeling as energetic as I have all week and did this video as the clock struck midnight turning the energy up to Stu Feiner levels.
I had Texas -153 and they immediately scored one in the 8th then Zach Zubia hit a bases clearing 3 run double in the 9th to put the game away for the Horns as a 6-2 final to end the Virginia CWS run.
The Final Four of the CWS is now set and it is a doozy with fiery storylines. Vandy is pitching projected #1 pick Kumar Rocker today at 1pm against undefeated NC State at 1pm in a rematch of the 1-0 Monday night pitching dual won by the Wolfpack. I did this now infamous video in the 5th inning when Terrell Tatum hit massive solo homer for NC State that decided the game.
Vandy must beat NC State twice to make it to the Championship Series and faces an uphill battle. But if anyone can pull this off, it is the defending national champions with Rocker and tons of experience in Omaha. Dave Portnoy has NC State +1500 to win it all and I have Vandy +350. Clearly he is in a much better spot and has a million times better value bet at this point but I still have a chance! This will be a HELLUVA game this afternoon and hopefully the rain does not affect it too much. There is projected bad weather again today in Omaha.
The 6pm game is another rematch of a 2-1 pitching dual from Sunday night between Texas and Mississippi State. Will Bednar struck out a whopping 15 Longhorns in only 6 innings allowing 1 hit and threw up this horns down sign as both Texas and Miss State fans cheered his performance. The Longhorns are throwing projected high 1st round pick Ty Madden once again against the Bulldogs. He pitched a great game in the 2-1 loss Sunday. This one should also be damn good and Texas must beat State twice to make the championship series.
It is going down today in Omaha fellas!