Three Reasons Florida State easily wins Tallahassee Regional and three reasons they won't

Florida State begins its national title pursuit by hosting St. John’s at 3 p.m. in the Tallahassee Regional. Florida State is favored to reach the Super Regionals, with Coastal Carolina as the most likely obstacle. The season showed that top teams can lose to weaker opponents, but Florida State generally handled expected matchups, winning midweek games except against Florida. Florida State’s starting pitching produced at least five innings in 76% of starts, giving them an advantage when leads are protected by later relievers. The team is also difficult to beat at Dick Howser Stadium, posting a 27-4 home record. Its offense is typically productive unless facing elite pitching, and the regional opponents are not expected to match that level.

"Florida State will begin its quest for that elusive national title on Friday, hosting the St. John's Red Storm at 3 p.m. in the Tallahassee Regional. The Noles are the odds-on favorites to advance to the Super Regionals, with the biggest challenge likely coming from the No. 2-seeded Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. However, it's baseball, and anything can happen, as evidenced in a ton of games this season, as top teams lost against inferior competition on numerous occasions."

"The good news for Florida State is that they usually beat who they were supposed to beat, except for the West Coast debacle against Stanford. They won every midweek game, except those against Florida. It was the top teams that they struggled to beat consistently. FSU should win the Tallahassee Regional. Here are three reasons that'll be the case."

"Florida State has the best overall starting pitching in the regional. FSU starting pitchers went at least five innings in 76 percent of their starts. If that happens and the starting pitcher gives way to John Abraham or Chris Knier with a lead? It's usually curtains for the opposing team."

"Florida State is extremely tough to beat in Dick Howser Stadium. They went 27-4 at home this year. One of those losses was the day after they lost Myles Bailey for the season(predictable letdown against Duke). They lost by two runs against NC State, one run against Florida, and by three runs against Miami after leading for about 75 percent of that game. The Animals in Section B will be rocking, and Florida State usually plays well at home."

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