College World Series 2024: Championship Predictions, Format and Full Bracket
Drama was abundant Friday in Omaha as the Men's College World Series kicked off with Tennessee and North Carolina narrowly escaping their opening match-ups with walk-off victories.
Both teams came back from deficits to stun their opponents and move one step closer to winning Bracket 1 and advancing to the championship final.
What does the tournament have in store for Saturday and the rest of its jam-packed schedule? When and where can fans check out the day's action from the comfort of their homes?
Which team should be the championship favorite?
Find out with this preview of the day's slate of games.
Friday Results
Game 1
North Carolina def. Virginia, 3-2
Game 2
Tennessee def. Florida, 12-11
Format
The format for the eight-team tournament is as follows:
- The eight teams eligible for the Men's College World Series are split into two, double-elimination brackets.
- The winners of the first round match-ups will move on to play each other, as will the losers.
- The loser of the game of winners will square off with the winner of the first elimination game in what will be another elimination game.
- The victor in the second elimination game will go on to play the bracket's unbeaten, 2-0 team.
- The unbeaten team must only win one game to advance to the finish. The team with one loss must win twice to advance to the final.
Bracket and Schedule
Saturday, June 15
Game 3: Kentucky vs. North Carolina State (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 4: Texas A&M vs. Florida (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Sunday, June 16
Game 5: Virginia vs. Florida State (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 6: North Carolina vs. Tennessee (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Monday, June 17
Game 7: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 8: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Tuesday, June 18
Game 9: TBD vs. TBD (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 10: TBD vs. TBD (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Wednesday, June 19
Game 11: TBD vs. TBD (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 12: TBD vs. TBD (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Thursday, June 20
Game 13 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD (2:00 p.m., TBD)
Game 14 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD (7:00 p.m., TBD)
Saturday, June 22
MCWS Final Game 1: TBD vs. TBD (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Sunday, June 23
MCWS Final Game 2: TBD vs. TBD (2:00 p.m., ABC)
Monday, June 24
MCWS Final Game 3 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Championship Prediction: Tennesse Volunteers
The Vols entered the Men's College World Series with, arguably, the best offense in the country.
Eight different players had double-digit home runs. Five hit above .300 and had OPS of 1.00 or higher. Two accumulated 100 hits or greater.
All the team did to answer whether they could continue their onslaught was put up 12 runs to complete an epic comeback against Florida State and walk it off to win the game.
Christian Moore, the team's most electrifying player, became just the second player in MCWS history to hit for the cycle.
It was well established entering Friday's game that Tennessee could score with anyone but to be able to fight back, coming back from down 9-4 early to win on a walk-off while your best player hits for the cycle by the sixth inning, was a whole other level of explosiveness.
The team can put runs up, and hit with the best of them, and they just survived the challenge of another equally as hot offense.
There remain tough tests, including a potential rematch with the Seminoles and a championship series with the winners of Bracket 2, but it is difficult to imagine any team being able to knock off the best offensive unit in the nation and a team that has been among the best all year.
Tennessee wins the MCWS.