SouthernCollegeSports.com

SCS.com Two weeks now remain in the college baseball regular season, and things are heating up around the country. Nebraska appeared to be the team to beat, but a trip to Stillwater has the Huskers appearing a bit more vulnerable.

The Rice Owls have been right there all year long and are back at the top of most rankings. Alabama looked as if the SEC was their playground until traveling to the Ozarks and coming back 0-3 on the trip. My personal darkhorse, Kentucky, is looking more and more like a contender as they are the new SEC leader with just six games to go. The Titans of Fullerton are there as usual, knocking on Rosenblatt's door once again.

The ACC, which appears to be the most top-heavy conference in the land, has several teams who can make a run to Omaha. The next two weeks will determine the national seeds, as the conference tournaments usually have little or no bearing on those decisions.

While Alabama has the easiest road to the SEC title, Nebraska is still in the hunt for the Big XII title; counting out the Cornhuskers would be a mistake. Oklahoma has sneaked itself into a possible national seed unless they fall flat on their face in the final two weeks. Arkansas has the coaching and grit to make it to Omaha, but the Hogs aren't likely not win it all in Omaha. North Carolina, in my opinion, is the most overrated team of 2006. I boldly predict that they will not make it out of Chapel Hill as a national seed.

Among my other predictions this week....

Locks for Omaha

Rice
Nebraska
Cal State-Fullerton
Texas

Contenders for Omaha

Clemson
Alabama
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Kentucky
Oregon State
Florida State
Georgia Tech

Houston Regional (1)

1. Rice
4. Gonzaga

2. College of Charleston
3. UC-Irvine

Charlottesville Regional

1. Virginia
4. Bucknell

2. Mississippi
3. Tulane

Lexington Regional (8)