NCAA Baseball Tournament Fayetteville Regional Preview & Predictions
Last updated May 30, 2025
The Fayetteville Regional promises high-octane baseball from the first pitch on May 30 through the last out no later than June 2. Arkansas earned the No. 3 national seed and hosts a field that also includes Kansas, Creighton, and North Dakota State. The Razorbacks arrive with a 43-13 record and a top-five RPI, while the visiting trio ranges from Kansas’ 43-15 mark to the Bison’s 20-32 record. This preview lays out what bettors need to know so you can judge where the value sits before first pitch.
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Fayetteville Regional Preview
Arkansas Team Preview
Dave Van Horn’s club is balanced at the plate and on the hill, posting a .422 on-base percentage on the season and a staff ERA just over 4.00 against the a very difficult schedule. Third-baseman Wehiwa Aloy hammers mistakes with a .353 average, 18 homers, and 58 RBI. Corner partner Charles Davalan almost mirrors those figures at .352 with 13 long balls and 54 runs driven in. Center-fielder Logan Maxwell adds a .347 average and 10 homers, giving Arkansas seven everyday hitters slugging above .550.
On the mound, Zach Root has struck out 106 in 79.2 innings with a 4.07 ERA, while Gabe Gaeckle touches 98 and fans has fanned 69 in 57.1 frames. Landon Beidelschies provides another power arm, sporting a 4-0 record. Add a 32-4 record inside Baum-Walker Stadium and a top-five RPI, and it becomes clear why sportsbooks grant the Hogs the status of being the favorite to win the College World Series.
Creighton Team Preview
The Creighton Bluejays claimed the Big East regular-season title and bring a sparkling 41-14 record to Fayetteville with 20 road wins. Offensively, table-setter Nolan Sailors is a nightmare on the bases, hitting .392 with 27 steals in 30 tries and an OPS north of 1.040. Middle-order bat Ben North (.303 BA, 67 hits, 55 RBI) and catcher Connor Capece (.369 BA, 40 RBI) offer protection in the lineup.
Creighton's strength, though, is run prevention. Dominic Cancellieri posts a pristine 1.94 ERA over 51 innings, with just 11 earned runs allowed. Matthew Aukerman has an 8-0 record and 2.53 ERA, while Garrett Langrell locks down late leads with 13 saves and a 2.77 ERA. Creighton limits opponents to a .243 average and will need to pitch well to put real heat on favored Arkansas in a potential Saturday matchup.
Kansas Team Preview
Dan Fitzgerald’s second season produced a renaissance in Lawrence, with a 43-15 record and the program’s sixth NCAA berth. The Jayhawks draw power from depth rather than a single superstar. Leadoff man Sawyer Smith hits .286 with nine homers and 43 RBI. Veteran Michael Brooks delivers clutch pop, tallying 11 extra-base hits in the last month to push his season line to .271/.418/.468 with nine homers. Derek Cerda adds another nine bombs and ten steals, though the Jayhawks have only attempted 27 steals this season as a team.
On the rubber, right-hander Cooper Moore sports a 7-2 record and 3.76 ERA across 83.2 innings, while sophomore Dominic Voegele, once Big 12 Preseason Pitcher of the Year, remains a wild card at 7-4 despite a 5.34 ERA. The Jayhawks’ futures price of +10000 is more about navigating a path that runs through Arkansas than any glaring flaw in their roster.
North Dakota State Team Preview
The North Dakota State Bison scratched into the field after finishing fourth in the Summit League and riding a late run in their conference tournament. Shortstop Jake Schaffner keys the offense with a .384 average, 107 total bases, and 18 steals. Third-baseman Davis Hamilton bats .314 with 12 doubles and a team-best 37 RBI, while senior Colten Becker leads the Bison with five home runs. North Dakota State hits .255 overall but has drawn 213 walks, showing patience that could elevate pitch counts for deeper opponents.
Pitching depth is thin for NDSU. Right-hander Nolan Johnson owns the starting staff’s best ERA at 4.14 with 4 wins, and Logan Knight checks in at an ERA of 4.68. Opponents have gone deep 49 times against the Bison, explaining their +100000 longshot odds to win the CWS. Still, the Bison are here, and anything can happen.
Betting Insights
The odds to win the Fayetteville regional are as follows:
- Arkansas -700
- Kansas +600
- Creighton +1400
- North Dakota State +4000
These odds suggest that it would be a small miracle if any team other than Arkansas were to advance out of this regional. The Razorbacks are far and away the best team in this group and are playing at home. But baseball is unpredictable and an upset is always possible.
Whether you think there will be an upset or the chalk will win out, be sure to take advantage of the Sportzino sportsbook bonus that is currently up for grabs. They are offering new users bonus sweepstakes coins, which can be used to bet on all of this weekend's college baseball action, so don't miss out.
2025 Fayetteville Regional Prediction
Arkansas’ blend of thunder at the plate and sufficient swing-and-miss pitching gives the hosts a decisive edge. Their toughest hurdle is the Saturday night contest that historically decides about 80% of regionals. If Kansas handles Creighton, Arkansas would likely see Cooper Moore with a rested pen. Should Creighton emerge, Cancellieri has not topped 100 all year, which could expose the ‘Jays to Arkansas’ left-right-left run producers after the fourth inning.
Pick: Arkansas advances in 3 games, sweeping the bracket at 2-0 before burying either Creighton or Kansas in the final. Probability assigned: 78% Arkansas, 12% Kansas, 8% Creighton, 2% North Dakota State. Look for Arkansas futures now if you believe their pitching surge down the stretch is sustainable. Their odds to win the College World Series are unlikely to shorten much until Omaha, so a partial hedge later remains viable.
