1. UCLA (51-17)
Points: 741 (9 first-place votes). Final 2010 ranking (PR): 2. Outlook: Bruins return six position starters and two pitching aces from team that reached championship finals for first time. OF Beau Amaral (.354, 31 RBI) and IFs Dean Espy (.345, 9 HR, 52), Tyler Rahmatulla (.328, 45) and Cody Regis (.318, 31) form heart of offense. LH ace Rob Rasmussen is gone, but RHs Trevor Bauer (12-3, 3.02 ERA, 165 K) and Gerrit Cole (11-4, 3.37, 153) are back. Freshman RH Adam Plutko, star of top-10 recruiting class, could break into weekend rotation quickly. First-year RH Zach Weiss could take over for departed closer Dan Klein. Opens: Feb. 18 vs. San Francisco.
2. TCU (54-14)
Points: 728 (9). PR: 3. Outlook: In first trip to College World Series, Horned Frogs were stopped a game short of championship series by UCLA. TCU returns arguably top pitching staff in country, led by sophomore LH Matt Purke (16-0, 3.02 ERA, 142 K) and followed by RHs Kyle Winkler and Steven Maxwell (combined 23-5 in 2010). Closer Tyler Lockwood is gone. Offense looks to SS Taylor Featherstone (.338, 8 HR, 52 RBI), OF Jason Coats (.361, 13, 69) and 2B Jerome Pena (.313, 11, 52). Freshman RH Tony Rizzotti is top newcomer. Opens: Feb. 18 vs. Kansas.
3. Florida (47-17)
Points: 709 (7). PR: 8. Outlook: After sweeping five postseason games to reach College World Series, Florida went 0-2 in Omaha. With eight starters back along with entire weekend pitching rotation, Gators could turn that around. 3B Austin Maddox (.333, 17 HR, 72 RBI) keys veteran lineup that also returns RF Preston Tucker (.331, 11, 49). LHs Brian Johnson and Alex Panteliodis teamed with RH Hudson Randall for 25 wins in 47 starts last season. Stephen Rodriguez (2-0, 2.57 ERA) steps into closer role. Freshman RH Karsten Whitson, ninth overall pick in last year's major league draft, could crack rotation quickly. Opens: Feb. 18 vs. South Florida.
4. Vanderbilt (46-20)
Points: 593 (1). PR: 13. Outlook: Commodores reached super regionals for second time last season but were denied first trip to Omaha by Florida State. 3B Jason Esposito (.359, 12 HR, 64 RBI) leads lineup that also has 1B Aaron Westlake (.308, 14, 61) and C Curt Casali (.309, 8, 42). RHs Sonny Gray (10-5, 3.48 ERA, 113 K), Taylor Hill (6-5, 4.46) and Jack Armstrong (7-4, 4.71) anchor rotation, but closer Russell Brewer must be replaced. LH freshman Kevin Ziomek headlines deep recruiting class that also has RHs T.J. Pecoraro and Steven Rice. Opens: Feb. 18 at San Diego.
5. Clemson (45-25)
Points: 592. PR: 4. Outlook: After winning first two games in Omaha last June, Tigers lost back-to-back heartbreakers to archrival South Carolina. Will reload with SS Brad Miller (.357, 8 HR, 49 RBI), 3B John Hinson (.351, 17, 75) and OF Jeff Schaus (.320, 15, 87). 1B Richie Shaffer provides another .300 bat. RHs Dominic Leone and Scott Weismann, and LH Will Lamb teamed for 16 wins in 48 starts last year. RH Scott Firth adds depth to rotation while RH Alex Frederick (7-2, 3.75, 4 saves) again will anchor bullpen. Opens: Feb. 18 vs. Eastern Michigan.
6. Oklahoma (50-18)
Points: 587. PR: 5. Outlook: After reaching College World Series for first time in 15 years, Sooners will try for another bid led by All-America 3B Garrett Buechele (.359, 17 HR, 65 RBI). 2B Caleb Bushyhead (.327, 6, 40) and 1B Cameron Seitzer (.305, 16, 53) were standouts in Omaha. Senior RH Bobby Shore (10-5, 4.12 ERA) tops rotation while RH Michael Rocha and LH Ryan Gibson combined for 13 wins in 17 starts. RH Ryan Duke (3-2, 12 saves) returns as closer. Junior college transfer RH Burch Smith will step right into rotation while freshman Casey Coyle could be catcher of future. Opens: Feb. 18 vs. William and Mary.
7. Texas (50-13)
Points: 577. PR: 9. Outlook: Good news for coach Augie Garrido is return of RHs Taylor Jungmann and Cole Green, who had 19 wins and threw 232 innings for team stopped short of Omaha in super regionals by TCU. Downside is departure of closer Chance Ruffin and LH ace Brandon Workman. No other returning pitcher threw more than 37 innings in 2010. Entire infield is back, led by 3B Kevin Lusson (.263, 14 HR, 48 RBI) and 1B Tant Shepherd (.337, 8, 37). Cohl Walla (.316, 8, 40) is most experienced outfielder. Opens: Feb. 18 vs. Maryland.
8. South Carolina (54-16)
Points: 564 (5). PR: 1. Outlook: Return of three veteran pitchers and handful of position starters is bright side for defending champ. Bleak side is loss of RHs Blake Cooper and Sam Dyson, who combined for 19 victories in 38 starts. LH Michael Roth (2-1, 1.34 ERA), one of the Omaha heroes, will be in rotation with LH Tyler Webb (3-2, 3.96). RH Matt Price (5-1, 2.26, 10 saves) again anchors bullpen. Offense is keyed to CF Jackie Bradley Jr. (.368, 13 HR, 60 RBI), the most outstanding player in CWS. OFs Evan Marzilli (.385) and Adam Matthews (.307) are back as well as 1B Christian Walker (.327, 9, 51), C Adrian Morales (.273) and 2B Scott Wingo (.247). Opens: Feb. 18 vs. Santa Clara.
9. Cal State-Fullerton (46-18)
Points: 449. PR: 12. Outlook: Titans stopped short of fifth trip to Omaha in eight years by UCLA in super regionals. That team lost five position starters, including first-round picks in SS Christian Colon and OF Gary Brown. That leaves 1B Nick Ramirez (.346 BA, 16 HR, 75 RBI), DH Carlos Lopez (.354, 7, 51) and RF Tyler Pill (.354, 7, 42) as key offensive cogs. RH Noe Ramirez (12-1, 2.54 ERA, 119 Ks) returns at top of rotation, followed by RH Dylan Floro (7-2, 3.26) and Pill (4-4, 3.36). Juco transfer Joe Terry will start at 3B while freshman LF Michael Lorenzen will help quickly. Opens: Feb. 18 at Long Beach State.
10. Oregon (40-24)
Points: 402. PR: not ranked. Outlook: In second season after restarting program following 28-year hiatus, coach George Horton led Ducks to NCAA tournament. They must replace pitchers Zack Thornton and Justin LaTempa (combined 15 wins) but still have RHs Tyler Anderson (7-2, 2.98 ERA, 105 K) and Scott McGough (5-2, 2.45) to head rotation and Madison Boer (3-1, 2.44, 5 saves) as closer. IFs K.C. Serna (.348, 37 RBI) and Danny Pulfer (.300, 38) are only returning .300 hitters, but they will be bolstered by one of country's best-hitting recruiting classes, topped by C Stefan Sabol, 1B Tyler Kuresa and IF Ryon Healy. Opens: Feb. 18 at Hawaii.
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