This next game could be one of the better up until the championship. The two inner-state teams (Texas and Rice) had one game cancelled due to cold weather in Austin while the other end in a 2-1 Rice win in Houston. 2nd Team All American Townsend will get the start, he pitched in the last game these two had this year where he pitched 8 innings, fanning 12 while giving up only 1 run on 4 hits. Will Texas be better vs him the second time around? One team has 7 .300 hitters (Texas) while the other has 8 (Rice). Both are similar in their styles of offense, not a ton of long ball threat with leading home run producer for Rice (Enrique Cruz with 10 and Texas Majewski with 12). Rice has 45 HR within starting lineup while Texas has 47. This is a very hard game to wager on as it will simply come down to the smallest of things to determine tonights winner. Sure on paper one would see a huge match up disadvantage with tonights starting pitchers. Both Solphmores, Townsend has the more dominating numbers on this years season.....BUT don't forget Justin Simmons heroics only a year ago on this field in Omaha! My local has the lines set at Rice (Number 1 Ranked Team in the Country in polls) -140 and Texas (Last Years National Champ and #8 ranked team in a poll) +120. Really IMO the value play would be with Rice! With the Owls you will be getting a team with more depth in batting avgs throughout the lineup, a more proven proven pitcher on the year in Townsend, with a little more depth available for relief EXCEPT if it comes down to a close game in the latter part of the 7th where Texas will have the advantage with Huston Street. But don't discredit David Aardsma who the San Francisco Giants made their 1st Round Pick! VERY TOUGH GAME TO FIND A CLEAR CUT ADVANTAGE ON. After factoring in all this you then have a longhorns team that is undefeated on this field the last 2 years. Won a regular season game there this year as well as thrashing over Miami in game 1. Rice on the other hand got the monkey off their back by winning their first game in a close battle with SMS, who Miami beat today. Still after that win Rice is only 2-6 here in Omaha. People have also made the argument of Revenge for Texas for the 2-1 loss this year. BUT believe me RICE wants revenge too for last years Texas win here in the CWS. All in all this will be a small play. My heart wants Texas my head says Rice tonight. If Rice loses they will be a great play throughout because of their pitching depth, BUT I have to go with my head over my heart here.....If Texas wins I will be very happy as I am a huge Horns fan, if they lose I will be sad but +2 units will help ease the pain! Here are tonights probable starting lineups and numbers.
RICE -140 2 units
RICE (Probable Starting Lineup)
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LF -- Chris Kolkhorst (.350 AVG, 3 HR, 43 RBI)
SS -- Paul Janish (.310, 4, 40)
1B -- Vincent Sinisi (.355, 9, 57)
2B -- Enrique Cruz (.347, 10, 51)
3B -- Craig Stansberry (.307, 6, 51)
DH -- Austin Davis (.346, 5, 60)
CF -- Jeff Jorgensen (.311, 0, 30)
RF -- Dane Bubela (.304, 7, 37)
C -- Jeff Blackinton (.283, 2, 10)
SP -- Wade Townsend (10-1, 1.90)
RP -- David Aardsma (5-3, 3.25, 11 saves)
TEXAS (Probable Starting Lineup)
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2B -- Tim Moss (.327 AVG, 3 HR, 32 RBI)
3B -- Omar Quintanilla (.351, 5, 70)
RF -- Dustin Majewski (.389, 12, 82)
LF -- Eric Sultemeier (.324, 9, 53)
C -- Taylor Teagarden (.310, 5, 39)
1B -- Curtis Thigpen (.300, 6, 34)
CF -- Joe Ferin (.321, 4, 30)
DH -- Seth Johnston (.253, 3, 11)
3B -- Huston Street (.182, 0, 4)
SP -- Justin Simmons (5-5, 4.28 ERA)
RP -- Huston Street (8-0, 1.38, 14 saves)
GL
YAZ