If the College World Series were decided solely by the eye test, Oklahoma might be the favorite to win the national championship.
The Sooners have looked every bit like the hottest team in Omaha. They haven’t lost since eliminating Georgia Tech during regional play, and they continue to play with the confidence of a team that fully believes it can dogpile at the end of the season.
Yet despite Oklahoma’s impressive run, oddsmakers still appear to favor North Carolina and Georgia in many championship futures markets.
That’s what makes the Sooners such an interesting team.
Georgia remains one of the most talented rosters left in the field, even though the Bulldogs now face the daunting task of beating Oklahoma twice to advance out of Bracket 2. North Carolina also entered Omaha as one of the tournament favorites and continues to receive plenty of respect from bettors.
But if you’ve actually watched the games, Oklahoma looks like a team nobody wants to face right now.
The Sooners are getting timely hits. Their pitching staff continues to deliver in big moments. Most importantly, they’re playing loose while everyone else seems to be feeling the pressure of Omaha.
Of course, eye tests don’t win championships.
Georgia still has a chance to prove why many viewed the Bulldogs as a national title contender all season. If the Bulldogs can beat Oklahoma on Wednesday and again on Thursday, they’ll erase the disappointment of falling into the loser’s bracket and earn a spot in the national championship series.
That’s a big ask against a team as hot as Oklahoma.
For now, the betting markets may favor North Carolina and Georgia.
But the eye test?
The eye test says Oklahoma looks like the team to beat.
