The excitement from Sunday's Super Regional walk-off vs. USC still weaving its way through Tar Heel Nation, but North Carolina must quickly re-focus on another task ahead.
On Friday night at 7 p.m., the UNC (50-12-1) baseball team will begin its College World Series run vs. Ole Miss. The Diamond Heels are playing in Omaha for a second time in three seasons, while the Rebels (41-21) make their first CWS appearance since 2022.
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North Carolina swept its way through the Regional round, dominating VCU before beating in-state rival East Carolina twice in consecutive days. UNC lost its Super Regional opener, shut out USC in Game 2, then channeled "Bosh Magic" to walk off the Trojans in Game 3 on Owen Hull's double.
Ole Miss, which played .500 SEC ball in a loaded conference, has yet to lose in the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels beat ranked Arizona State twice in Nebraska's Lincoln Regional, sandwiched around a 6-3 victory vs. the Cornhuskers. Ole Miss took down SEC rival Auburn in two Super Regional games, 6-4 and 5-3, setting up Friday's date with the Diamond Heels.
If North Carolina wants to beat a red-hot Rebels squad, hitting with runners in scoring position has to improve. UNC managed to win two games against USC, which sports a great pitching staff rivaling the one in Chapel Hill, despite a 3-for-26 mark with RISP.
Ole Miss plays in arguably college baseball's best conference. The Rebels are one of five SEC teams in Omaha, while the Diamond Heels proudly represent their ACC counterparts.
As you prepare to watch North Carolina's CWS opener, keep reading below for this can't-miss preview with broadcast information, UNC's key to victory, picks and players to watch from both teams.
What channel is the UNC-Ole Miss CWS baseball on Friday night? Time, TV schedule, radio
TV Channel: ESPN
Time: Friday, June 12 at 7 p.m.
Radio: The Varsity Network
Website: WatchESPN
UNC's Key to Victory
Hit with runners in scoring position.
UNC is extremely lucky to be playing in the College World Series. The Diamond Heels only hit 3-for-26 with runners in scoring position against USC, but luckily, their stellar pitching combatted that hitting anomaly.
Ole Miss pitching is solid, particularly in the bullpen. The Rebels limited Auburn two seven runs in two games, which followed just 13 runs against them in the Regional Round.
If North Carolina produces with runners on second and third, they'll win Friday's CWS nightcap.
UNC vs. Ole Miss prediction, picks, odds
UNC survived another Game 3 scare on Sunday, coming back from two runs down to beat USC and advance to Omaha. Ole Miss won its first five NCAA Tournament games, last losing on May 19 in its SEC Tournament opener.
North Carolina has nothing to lose. The Diamond Heels expected to make Omaha, while the Rebels were a wild card when they began NCAA Tournament play.
UNC finally fixes its RISP woes, while Ole Miss falls just short of an upset in its CWS opener. North Carolina's bullpen proves the deciding factor in a close win.
Score prediction: UNC 7, Ole Miss 5
Spread: UNC -1.5
Over/Under: 8.5 runs
Moneyline: Ole Miss +124, UNC -160
Players to Watch from UNC
CF Owen Hull: .390 batting average, 92 hits, 81 runs batted in, .589 slugging percentage (all lead UNC), seven home runs, 53 runs scored, 47 walks
OF Carter French: .232 BA, 26 hits, 26 runs scored, 20 walks, five stolen bases
SP/RP Caden Glauber: 10-0 win-loss record, 2.20 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 99 strikeouts (leads UNC), four saves, 81 2/3 innings pitched across 25 appearances (three starts)
RP Jackson Rose: 4-0, 2.35 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 44 K, .174 batting average against, 46 IP, 21 appearances (six starts)
Players to Watch from Ole Miss
INF Judd Utermark: .294 BA, .599 SLG% (leads Ole Miss), 74 hits, 22 home runs (leads Ole Miss), 69 RBI (leads Ole Miss), 57 runs scored
OF Mitchell Sanford: .317 BA, 1.029 OPS (leads Ole Miss), 79 hits, 17 HR, 47 RBI, 66 runs scored, 13 stolen bases
SP Hunter Elliott: 10-3, 2.94 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 102 K (leads Ole Miss), .197 BAA, 85 2/3 IP (leads Ole Miss)
RP Connor Spencer: 0-1, 1.82 ERA, eight saves (leads Ole Miss), 27 strikeouts, .176 BAA, 24 2/3 IP, 21 appearances
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: College World Series: UNC-Ole Miss game preview, info, prediction