NCAA Baseball Tournament Tallahassee Regional Preview & Predictions
Last updated May 29, 2025
College baseball’s postseason returns to Tallahassee on May 30 with a regional that should be one of the more competitive of the weekend. Host Florida State carries national pedigree but faces fresh threats in a record-setting Northeastern club, a resurgent Mississippi State, and a dangerous Bethune-Cookman side fresh off a SWAC crown. Four offenses that can do plenty of damage meet four pitching staffs that will try to contain them. For bettors, that means plenty of angles to take in the Tallahassee regional. Below is an in-depth preview to help you decide where the value lies.
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Tallahassee Regional Preview
The committee installed seed 9 Florida State as the regional host, yet the bracket carries upset potential. Northeastern arrives with a 48-9 record, a nation-best .842 winning clip, and a 27-game winning streak. Mississippi State slogged through an SEC gauntlet but still produced 34 wins and clubbed 97 homers, the most in this foursome. Bethune-Cookman rides into town at 37-21 after sweeping through the SWAC tournament and boasts a line-up that slugged 84 long balls. Game 1 pairs Florida State against Bethune-Cookman, followed by Northeastern against Mississippi State. Winners advance to Saturday’s 1-0 game, losers fight through the elimination bracket. Weather forecasts call for high-80s with light wind, favorable hitting conditions that could inflate totals.
Florida State Team Preview
Head coach Link Jarrett’s club finished 38-14 and 17-10 in ACC play. The Seminoles’ offense hits .315 with 93 homers and a .530 slugging percentage. Shortstop Alex Lodise tops the order at .415 with 17 homers and a .760 slugging percentage while center-fielder Gage Harrelson adds a .338 average and 13 steals.
On the mound, left-hander Jamie Arnold gives Florida State a true Friday ace at 7-2, a 3.04 ERA, and 97 strikeouts in 71 innings, holding opponents to a .207 average. Joey Volini owns an 8-5 mark with a 3.59 ERA and 95 punch-outs in 77.2 frames, giving the Seminoles a sturdy one-two punch. The bullpen leans on Joe Charles, whose 4.20 ERA masks a .198 opponent average, plus Peyton Prescott and Chris Knier from the right side.
Mississippi State Team Preview
The Bulldogs arrive 34-21, 15-15 inside the unforgiving SEC, yet their underlying metrics scream upside. The line-up bats .307 and has combined to hit 97 homers. First-baseman Ace Reese leads with a .371 average, 21 homers, and a 1.208 OPS, while Hunter Hines adds 15 bombs and a .952 OPS.
Mississippi State’s pitching posted a 4.44 ERA, but the staff struck out 605 batters, 10.8 per nine, and holds opponents to a .228 average. Southpaw Pico Kohn headlines the rotation at 5-3, a 4.13 ERA, and 107 strikeouts in 76.1 innings. Karson Ligon brings a 6-5 record, though his 5.81 ERA hints at volatility. The bullpen’s swing piece is Luke Dotson with a 2.66 ERA and 27 K in 20.1 innings. Mississippi State struggles with free passes, issuing 187 walks, so strike-throwing will determine whether the Bulldogs can unleash their power in high-leverage moments.
Northeastern Team Preview
The Northeastern Huskies are college baseball’s top team from a win percentage standpoint, closing the regular season and conference play at 48-9 with a 25-2 CAA record and .290 team average. The offense thrives on contact, speed, and timely pop, stealing 192 bases in 236 attempts for an astonishing 81%. Harrison Feinberg leads with a .379 average, 18 homers, and 36 steals. Cam Maldonado adds a .371 average, 15 homers, and 29 steals, giving manager Mike Glavine two table-setting wrecking balls.
The pitching staff comes in with a 2.92 ERA with a .210 opponent average. Will Jones owns an 11-0 record, 1.82 ERA, and 72 K in 69.1 innings. Jordan Gottesman brings a 9-2 mark, 2.30 ERA, and 91 K, while freshman Aiven Cabral sits at 10-2, with a 2.74 ERA. Add Charlie Walker’s seven saves and a solid bullpen ERA, and Northeastern can shorten any game.
Bethune-Cookman Team Preview
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats captured the SWAC auto bid behind an offense that slashed .307/.424/.529 and piled up 128 steals. Corner duo Andrey Martinez and Jorge Rodriguez provide power and average hitting. Martinez slugged 20 homers with a .354 average, Rodriguez delivered 14 homers with a .357 clip. Speedster Sergio Rivera swiped 34 bags and scored 46 runs.
On the hill, Edwin Sanchez anchors the rotation at 8-1 with a 3.09 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 75.2 innings. Behind him, the numbers swell: Tanner Boccabello sports a 4.52 ERA, Joel Core a 4.81 ERA, and the bullpen shows several arms above 6.00 ERA. Bethune-Cookman must win slugfests or hope Sanchez steals the opener. The Wildcats are dangerous if they get ahead early, but depth remains a glaring concern.
Betting Insights
Sportsbook futures paint a clear hierarchy. DraftKings lists Florida State at +3000 to win the national championship, Mississippi State at +5000, Northeastern at +7000, and Bethune-Cookman at +100000. Regional-only odds are tighter, as books install Florida State around -125, Northeastern +230, Mississippi State +300, Bethune-Cookman +4000.
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2025 Tallahassee Regional Prediction
Florida State owns home-field edge and a nice two-starter combo. Yet the Seminoles' bullpen has been erratic at times. Northeastern arrives with the best pitching and the most disruptive running game. Mississippi State’s power cannot be ignored, but the Bulldogs’ 4.44 ERA and control woes limit their ceiling over a multi-game weekend. Bethune-Cookman’s path likely ends quickly unless Sanchez throws a gem against Florida State.
Projection: Northeastern upsets Florida State in the 1-0 game behind Will Jones, Florida State battles back through the losers bracket, forcing a Monday final, but Northeastern closes behind Jordan Gottesman to clinch its first Super Regional berth.
