Virginia Only Non-SEC Contender in College World Series Semifinals

The College World Series bracket has four finalists left standing. Thursday's score to determine the last semifinalist was quite lopsided, as Virginia blew out California for the second straight time by 8-1, according to the Associated Press. Now the field has three SEC teams left in South Carolina, Florida and Vanderbilt, while Virginia seems like the odd team out.

But the Cavaliers don't look like the typical odd team out, since Virginia is the top seed. However, all of the Cavaliers' scores have either been lopsided in its favor or against in Omaha. The two blowout wins over the Bears were sandwiched between a 7-1 defeat to the Gamecocks, which dropped Virginia to the elimination bracket.

As such, although the Cavaliers got to blow out an underdog twice, they could be in the opposite scenario soon enough. Now Virginia has to defeat a South Carolina team that it lost to earlier in the series and beat the defending college baseball champions twice in a row. However, since the Gamecocks haven't lost in Omaha since the first game of last year's series, it could be too tough of a task.

The Cavaliers ended the Golden Bears' dream season in crushing fashion, but now they may be the new big underdogs of the tournament, despite being a top seed. Yet that position might be well-placed, especially with South Carolina being such a juggernaut in Omaha.

Both semifinal matchups offer a chance for revenge, however, as the Cavaliers and Commodores try to avenge defeats to the Gamecocks and Gators from days ago -- and then do it one more time. But as everyone knows from last year, winning two straight semifinal games isn't impossible. In fact, the Gamecocks more than lived up to that challenge, then won the national title.

As such, South Carolina probably knows not to underestimate Virginia, which has already bounced back from the brink. The only reason the Cavaliers are here is because they rallied against UC Irvine in the regional final, despite being one strike from losing. But if Virginia falters like it did in the first battle with South Carolina, then the Cavaliers will be completely out of it by the last strike.

Should either the Gamecocks or Gators lose Friday, there will be action Saturday to settle the final matchup. Yet if South Carolina and Florida prevail, it will give them each an entire weekend of rest before their all-SEC final starts June 27. That may help inspire them to put Virginia and Vanderbilt away quickly.

So far, the bracket has been cut in half from eight to four in just under a week. But in one day, it could cut from four to two should Friday's scores favor the Gamecocks and Gators over the Cavaliers and Commodores one last time.

Sources

Yahoo Sports- "Wilson carries Virginia to 8-1 win over Cal"

NCAA.com- "NCAA Division I Baseball Championship Bracket"