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To kick off the thread, BaseballAmerica's preseason top 25.
1. Florida
Baseball America OFP: 80. If ever a team were an overwhelming favorite on paper, it's Florida, which has talent, experience, balance, motivation and strong coaching. It fell two wins shy in 2011 but looks poised to finally hoist the trophy in 2012.
2. Stanford
Baseball America OFP: 70. Only Florida can match Stanford's talent level. Anything less than a CWS appearance will be a disappointment for this group, which has a strong chance to end Stanford's nearly quarter-century-long national title drought.
3. South Carolina
Baseball America OFP: 70. If the last two years have taught us anything it is never to doubt Roth, Price and co. South Carolina has a legit chance at college baseball's first three-peat since Southern California won five straight from 1970-74.
4. Arkansas
Baseball America OFP: 70. Arkansas has a deep, talented roster and few discernible weaknesses. The Hogs are the favorites to win the SEC West and are legit national title contenders.
5. Arizona
Baseball America OFP: 65. A major reason for Arizona's move to Hi Corbett was to enhance its chances to host a regional. This team is good enough to host and to get the Wildcats to Omaha for the first time since 2004.
6. Rice
Baseball America OFP: 65. Rice's pitching-and-defense formula is a recipe for success in the BBCOR era, and the lineup will make opposing pitchers work hard. A deep postseason run is in Rice's sights.
7. Texas A&M
Baseball America OFP: 60. Wacha and Stripling will ensure the Aggies are very difficult to beat in weekend series, and the athletic lineup is intriguing. Another Omaha run is certainly within reach.
8. Louisiana State
Baseball America OFP: 60. LSU lacks its traditional offensive firepower, but its enviable stable of arms and collection of solid veterans in the lineup could carry it back to Omaha for the first time since '09.
9. North Carolina
Baseball America OFP: 60. This program simply knows how to win. Its 2012 roster is built to grind opponents down offensively and win close games with its deep bullpen. That formula worked in 2011, and it should result in a lot of wins again this year.
10. Vanderbilt
Baseball America OFP: 60. Vanderbilt's upside is tantalizing, because its pitching staff is overflowing with quality arms, but how those arms will respond to the rigors of the SEC remains to be seen. The fantastic coaching staff and strong lineup ensure this team's floor is fairly high even if the pitching should disappoint. Amazingly, a team that lost 11 drafted players—including four All-Americans—could realistically get back to Omaha.
11. Georgia
Baseball America OFP: 60. David Perno thinks his team is in the best shape heading into a season as it has been in his tenure. Balanced and deep, Georgia is capable of making noise in the postseason.
12. Georgia Tech
Baseball America OFP: 60. Georgia Tech has the talent to make an Omaha run, but the same could be said in each of the last three years, which ended in disappointment. The Jackets need their talented young arms to live up to their potential, and the whole team needs to play at peak level when it matters most.
13. Texas
Baseball America OFP: 60. The lineup won't scare anybody, and the defense doesn't look quite as airtight as usual, but the arms and the system are capable of carrying Texas a long way.
14. UCLA
Baseball America OFP: 60. If UCLA's pitching holds up, it is capable of hosting a regional at newly-renovated Jackie Robinson Stadium for the third straight year, because the defense should be elite and the offense figures to transform from a liability into a strength.
15. Texas Christian
Baseball America OFP: 55. TCU's stellar offense should carry it for long stretches, but the young pitching will be tested immediately by a challenging first four weeks (Mississippi, at Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech).
16. Clemson
Baseball America OFP: 55. Clemson has some question marks but also has significant upside. If McGibbon and Pohl can protect Shaffer and the bullpen can come together, the Tigers could challenge for the ACC title.
17. Arizona State
Baseball America OFP: 55. Arizona State is not eligible for the 2012 postseason because of NCAA rules infractions, but the Sun Devils can still win the Pacific-12 Conference title. Don't be shocked if they ride a free-wheeling, nothing-to-lose mentality—and a dynamite one-two punch atop the rotation—into the thick of the Pac-12 race.
18. Miami
Baseball America OFP: 55. When the NCAA ruled O'Brien—who transferred from Bethune-Cookman to be near his ailing mother—eligible on Jan. 19, Miami's CWS prospects received a major boost. The Hurricanes are a balanced club led by a strong pitching staff, and they should be considered a major factor in the ACC.
19. Oklahoma
Baseball America OFP: 55. Optimism abounded in Norman after the fall, when fierce competition for jobs brought out the best in players. The Sooners look hungry and rejuvenated, and they figure to get better as the spring progresses and their newcomers adjust to Division I.
20. Florida State
Baseball America OFP: 55. Florida State will score loads of runs and should play good defense, but the development of its young pitching will ultimately determine whether or not the season is a success.
21. Central Florida
Baseball America OFP: 50. The pillars of Terry Rooney's first recruiting class at UCF are now entering their junior years, and UCF followed that group up with two more strong classes. The future is now for the Knights, who have their sights set on their first super regional.
22. Mississippi
Baseball America OFP: 50. Ole Miss looks like a balanced club capable of making a run, though it won't be easy in the loaded SEC. The Rebels should get back into regionals, and if their young pitchers develop as hoped, they could be dangerous in June.
23. Oregon State
Baseball America OFP: 50. There are plenty of question marks, but if the young arms mature as hoped, the Beavers have super regional upside.
24. Louisville
Baseball America OFP: 50. Louisville's lineup has a lot to prove, but the summer and fall provided plenty of reason for optimism, and the pitching staff should be good enough to carry this team to plenty of low-scoring victories.
25. Cal State Fullerton
Baseball America OFP: 50. The significant pitching question marks place Fullerton in the unfamiliar position of being an underdog to get to Omaha. This program has a history of thriving when expectations for them are lower—and the Titans are still the favorite to win the Big West Conference.
Finally, each team is given an Overall Future Potential (OFP) grade. The OFP scale:
80: A team for the ages. An overwhelming favorite with no obvious weaknesses. Think 1981 Arizona State or 1996 Louisiana State—and, this year, Florida.
70: Elite. A leading contender for the national title.
65: Well-above-average. Legitimate championship contender.
60: Above-average. Strong Omaha contender.
55: Slightly above-average. A threat to win a conference title and perhaps reach Omaha.
50: Solid-average. Strong NCAA tournament teams who could make a postseason run.
80: A team for the ages. An overwhelming favorite with no obvious weaknesses. Think 1981 Arizona State or 1996 Louisiana State—and, this year, Florida.
70: Elite. A leading contender for the national title.
65: Well-above-average. Legitimate championship contender.
60: Above-average. Strong Omaha contender.
55: Slightly above-average. A threat to win a conference title and perhaps reach Omaha.
50: Solid-average. Strong NCAA tournament teams who could make a postseason run.
Baseball America OFP: 80. If ever a team were an overwhelming favorite on paper, it's Florida, which has talent, experience, balance, motivation and strong coaching. It fell two wins shy in 2011 but looks poised to finally hoist the trophy in 2012.
2. Stanford
Baseball America OFP: 70. Only Florida can match Stanford's talent level. Anything less than a CWS appearance will be a disappointment for this group, which has a strong chance to end Stanford's nearly quarter-century-long national title drought.
3. South Carolina
Baseball America OFP: 70. If the last two years have taught us anything it is never to doubt Roth, Price and co. South Carolina has a legit chance at college baseball's first three-peat since Southern California won five straight from 1970-74.
4. Arkansas
Baseball America OFP: 70. Arkansas has a deep, talented roster and few discernible weaknesses. The Hogs are the favorites to win the SEC West and are legit national title contenders.
5. Arizona
Baseball America OFP: 65. A major reason for Arizona's move to Hi Corbett was to enhance its chances to host a regional. This team is good enough to host and to get the Wildcats to Omaha for the first time since 2004.
6. Rice
Baseball America OFP: 65. Rice's pitching-and-defense formula is a recipe for success in the BBCOR era, and the lineup will make opposing pitchers work hard. A deep postseason run is in Rice's sights.
7. Texas A&M
Baseball America OFP: 60. Wacha and Stripling will ensure the Aggies are very difficult to beat in weekend series, and the athletic lineup is intriguing. Another Omaha run is certainly within reach.
8. Louisiana State
Baseball America OFP: 60. LSU lacks its traditional offensive firepower, but its enviable stable of arms and collection of solid veterans in the lineup could carry it back to Omaha for the first time since '09.
9. North Carolina
Baseball America OFP: 60. This program simply knows how to win. Its 2012 roster is built to grind opponents down offensively and win close games with its deep bullpen. That formula worked in 2011, and it should result in a lot of wins again this year.
10. Vanderbilt
Baseball America OFP: 60. Vanderbilt's upside is tantalizing, because its pitching staff is overflowing with quality arms, but how those arms will respond to the rigors of the SEC remains to be seen. The fantastic coaching staff and strong lineup ensure this team's floor is fairly high even if the pitching should disappoint. Amazingly, a team that lost 11 drafted players—including four All-Americans—could realistically get back to Omaha.
11. Georgia
Baseball America OFP: 60. David Perno thinks his team is in the best shape heading into a season as it has been in his tenure. Balanced and deep, Georgia is capable of making noise in the postseason.
12. Georgia Tech
Baseball America OFP: 60. Georgia Tech has the talent to make an Omaha run, but the same could be said in each of the last three years, which ended in disappointment. The Jackets need their talented young arms to live up to their potential, and the whole team needs to play at peak level when it matters most.
13. Texas
Baseball America OFP: 60. The lineup won't scare anybody, and the defense doesn't look quite as airtight as usual, but the arms and the system are capable of carrying Texas a long way.
14. UCLA
Baseball America OFP: 60. If UCLA's pitching holds up, it is capable of hosting a regional at newly-renovated Jackie Robinson Stadium for the third straight year, because the defense should be elite and the offense figures to transform from a liability into a strength.
15. Texas Christian
Baseball America OFP: 55. TCU's stellar offense should carry it for long stretches, but the young pitching will be tested immediately by a challenging first four weeks (Mississippi, at Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech).
16. Clemson
Baseball America OFP: 55. Clemson has some question marks but also has significant upside. If McGibbon and Pohl can protect Shaffer and the bullpen can come together, the Tigers could challenge for the ACC title.
17. Arizona State
Baseball America OFP: 55. Arizona State is not eligible for the 2012 postseason because of NCAA rules infractions, but the Sun Devils can still win the Pacific-12 Conference title. Don't be shocked if they ride a free-wheeling, nothing-to-lose mentality—and a dynamite one-two punch atop the rotation—into the thick of the Pac-12 race.
18. Miami
Baseball America OFP: 55. When the NCAA ruled O'Brien—who transferred from Bethune-Cookman to be near his ailing mother—eligible on Jan. 19, Miami's CWS prospects received a major boost. The Hurricanes are a balanced club led by a strong pitching staff, and they should be considered a major factor in the ACC.
19. Oklahoma
Baseball America OFP: 55. Optimism abounded in Norman after the fall, when fierce competition for jobs brought out the best in players. The Sooners look hungry and rejuvenated, and they figure to get better as the spring progresses and their newcomers adjust to Division I.
20. Florida State
Baseball America OFP: 55. Florida State will score loads of runs and should play good defense, but the development of its young pitching will ultimately determine whether or not the season is a success.
21. Central Florida
Baseball America OFP: 50. The pillars of Terry Rooney's first recruiting class at UCF are now entering their junior years, and UCF followed that group up with two more strong classes. The future is now for the Knights, who have their sights set on their first super regional.
22. Mississippi
Baseball America OFP: 50. Ole Miss looks like a balanced club capable of making a run, though it won't be easy in the loaded SEC. The Rebels should get back into regionals, and if their young pitchers develop as hoped, they could be dangerous in June.
23. Oregon State
Baseball America OFP: 50. There are plenty of question marks, but if the young arms mature as hoped, the Beavers have super regional upside.
24. Louisville
Baseball America OFP: 50. Louisville's lineup has a lot to prove, but the summer and fall provided plenty of reason for optimism, and the pitching staff should be good enough to carry this team to plenty of low-scoring victories.
25. Cal State Fullerton
Baseball America OFP: 50. The significant pitching question marks place Fullerton in the unfamiliar position of being an underdog to get to Omaha. This program has a history of thriving when expectations for them are lower—and the Titans are still the favorite to win the Big West Conference.
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