There are 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Softball Championship. They will play best-of-three super regionals through the weekend to determine whichwill advance to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
The USA TODAY Sports Network is predicting which team will win each super regional to advance. Here are the picks:
Norman (Oklahoma) Super Regional
No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 16 Washington
Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun:Oklahoma–The Huskieshaveone of the nation's best defenses, buttheir offense won't keep pace with OU. The Soonersleadthe nation in five offensive categories.
Eric Blum, Columbia Daily Tribune:Oklahoma– The Sooners passed a tough regional test against Wichita State and are unscathed in the postseason. That continues against the Huskies.
Tommy Deas, SEC Cross Team Leader: Washington – The Sooners are a juggernaut at the plate, but Washington has the antidote in ace pitcher Gabbie Plain.
Aria Gerson, The Tennessean:Oklahoma –Gabbie Plain looked fatigued by the end of the series against Michigan, and the Sooners have much better hitters.
Brett Greenberg, The Tuscaloosa News: Oklahoma –The Sooners are undefeated at home and scored 50 runs in the Norman regional.
Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser:Oklahoma – The Sooners could drop one game, but there is no way they will lose twice at home.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald:Oklahoma – Sooners are 19-0 at home. Expecting the Huskies to take two of three in Norman is too much.
'There is zero mercy':Sooners set NCAA records, rout Wichita State to reach super regional
Columbia (Missouri) Super Regional
No. 8 Missouri vs. James Madison
Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun:Missouri – JMU may take the opener withOdicci Alexander in the circle, but Mizzou has too much talent top to bottom.
Eric Blum, Columbia Daily Tribune:Missouri– As good as JMU has been this season, it has yet to face as complete a team as Mizzou. This likely goes toGame 3, but the Tigers prevail.
Tommy Deas, SEC Cross Team Leader: Missouri – James Madison has pitching but Missouri has quietly become the SEC's X-factor in the postseason..
Aria Gerson, The Tennessean:James Madison –The Dukes have most of their best players back from 2019, including two-way star Oddici Alexander. That experience will get JMU to itsfirst Women's College World Series.
Brett Greenberg, The Tuscaloosa News: Missouri– Former Alabama All-American and ESPN analystKayla Braud picked the Tigers as one of her dark horse during the SEC Tournament.
Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser:Missouri – James Madison is 37-1, but it will be 37-3 very soon.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald:James Madison–The Dukes ended No. 9 seed Tennessee’s season in Knoxville. The upset pick here is to make Missouri ace Jordan Weber look more human.
Missouri:Jordan Weber no-hitter leads Mizzou to 5-0 win over Iowa State, first NCAA Tournament super regionals since 2016
Stillwater (Oklahoma) Super Regional
No. 5 Oklahoma State vs. No. 12 Texas
Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun:Oklahoma State– Beating a teamthree times in one season is difficult, but the Cowgirls went 4-0 against Texas this year. OSU may not sweep again, but will advance.
Eric Blum, Columbia Daily Tribune:Texas– There's no way the Cowgirls sweep after taking all four regular-season meetings, right? The Longhorns use that momentum to get to Oklahoma City.
Tommy Deas, SEC Cross Team Leader: Texas – What's a postseason without some upsets? The Cowgirls swept Texas in the regular season, but the Longhorns turn the tables.
Aria Gerson, The Tennessean:Oklahoma State –The Cowgirls proved they were the better team in the regular season. They won't sweep through this one, but they will ultimately prevail.
Brett Greenberg, The Tuscaloosa News: Texas– It's hard to beat a team every time you play them in one season, I like the Longhorns here in three games.
Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser:Oklahoma State – Texas is a popular upset pick, but not here. Everything is big in Texas, including the Longhorns' losing streak this season to Oklahoma State, which will grow to six.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald:Oklahoma State–The Longhorns went 0-4 against Oklahoma State this season.
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Gainesville:(Florida) Super Regional
No. 4 Florida vs. Georgia
Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun:Florida – After taking two ofthe three gamesin Athens, including a whopping 17-1 win, the Gators sweep UGA at home.
Eric Blum, Columbia Daily Tribune:Florida– The Gators are just too good and should take consecutive games from a Bulldogs team they've already beaten this season.
Tommy Deas, SEC Cross Team Leader: Florida – Georgia can beat any team and lose to any opponent. This time Georgia loses in the college softball's largest co*cktail party.
Aria Gerson, The Tennessean:Florida –Georgia struggled at the end of the season and though it had an impressive showing in regionals, upstart Duke is very different from a perennial Women's College World Series contender.
Brett Greenberg, The Tuscaloosa News: Florida – The Gators are playing with plenty of momentum despite the SEC Tournament championship loss to Alabama. Their pitching staff is as good as any in the country and Florida is never out of a game.
Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser:Florida – This will go to three games like most SEC weekends. Florida will reach the World Series with an extra-inning win.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald: Florida –The Bulldogs showed they weren’t done yet by going unbeaten at home in the regionals. Florida won series in Athens this season by a score of 27-6.
Gators:Hannah Adams' double plates winning run in Gators' 1-0 win over USF in Gainesville Regional
Tuscaloosa (Alabama) Super Regional
No. 3 Alabama vs. No. 14 Kentucky
Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun:Alabama– After losing their regular season series at Kentucky, the Crimson Tide getrevengeand punchtheir ticket to OKC.
Eric Blum, Columbia Daily Tribune:Alabama– Clemson should've been a tough test for the Crimson Tide in the regionals. It wasn't. Kentucky is just in the wrong super regional to pull an upset.
Tommy Deas, SEC Cross Team Leader: Alabama – The Crimson Tide hasn't trailed at the end of an inning since mid-April. Alabama is playing too well not to win here.
Aria Gerson, The Tennessean:Alabama –Kentucky struggled somewhat in its regional, needing to advance from the losers bracket. That won't cut it against the red-hot Crimson Tide.
Brett Greenberg, The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama – The Crimson Tide has a 16-game win streak and Montana Fouts has 303 strikeouts on the season. Her dominant streak won't stop in Tuscaloosa.
Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser:Alabama– The Crimson Tide is 16-0 with its last loss on April 17, but Kentucky took two at home in March. The Tide wins in three games with some luck.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald: Alabama –The teams split the season series and Kentucky is 15-8 on the road. Alabama is peaking at the right time, winning the SEC Tournament and outscoring opponents 20-0 in regionals.
Alabama vs. Kentucky Wildcats softball:Video highlights, score in the 2021 SEC Tournament
Fayetteville (Arkansas) Super Regional
No. 6 Arkansas vs. No. 11 Arizona
Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun:Arkansas – The Wildcats area tempting pick, but they can't handlethe crowd at Arkansas orthe SEC regular season champs.
Eric Blum, Columbia Daily Tribune:Arizona– The Wildcats have been shaky on the road and Fayetteville is a tough place to play. I believe this goes to Game 3 and Arizona somehow finds a way through.
Tommy Deas, SEC Cross Team Leader: Arkansas – Arizona hasbig bats but can't bring the thin desert air to the Ozarks. It just means more SEC teams in the WCWS.
Aria Gerson, The Tennessean:Arizona –Wildcats outfielder Janelle Meono becomes the breakout star of this year's postseason.
Brett Greenberg, The Tuscaloosa News: Arkansas – The Razorbacks won the regular season in the best conference in the country. They will be another representative for the SEC in OklahomaCity.
Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser:Arkansas – Welcome to the SEC, Arizona, and don't let the cornbread hit you on the way out in two.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald:Arkansas –The Razorbacks should be pumped for their first-ever home super regional. The Wildcats are 11-10 on the road.
Baton Rouge (Louisiana) Super Regional
No. 7 LSU vs. No. 10 Florida State
Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun:Arkansas – LSU has home-field advantage on its side, but the Seminoles have ace pitcherKathryn Sanderco*ck on theirs. She will be the difference for FSU.
Eric Blum, Columbia Daily Tribune: LSU– This may be the toughest super regional to call because of how stout both teams have been against the country's elite. I just can't ignore the differenceAliyah Andrews makes.
Tommy Deas, SEC Cross Team Leader: Florida State – LSU is the most battle-tested team after playing the nation's toughest schedule, but FSU wins this war.
Aria Gerson, The Tennessean:Florida State –LSU can't keep up with the Seminoles' stingy pitching staff.
Brett Greenberg, The Tuscaloosa News: LSU– The Tigers win here in a three-game series.This was a toss-up for me.
Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser:Florida State – The Tigers will win the opener, but their Cinderella season ends as their bats go cold.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald:Florida State –The Seminoles are used to the super regional stage. LSU needed to come back after a loss to UL-Lafayette to win its regional.
How to watch:Live stream LSU vs. Florida State softball in NCAA Tournament Super Regional
Los Angeles Super Regional
No. 2 UCLA vs. Virginia Tech
Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun:UCLA – Tune in for thepitchers duel betweenRachel Garcia and VT's Keely Rochard. Tune out once the Bruins start dominating.
Eric Blum, Columbia Daily Tribune:UCLA– The Hokies did a great job to get out of the Tempe Regional but the Bruins are a juggernaut they can't stop. UCLA continues its path to defend its title.
Tommy Deas, SEC Cross Team Leader: UCLA – The Bruins won't be messing around. UCLA makes this look easy.
Aria Gerson, The Tennessean:UCLA –The Bruins had a scare put into them in the super regionals, but the Hokies won't be able to figure out Rachel Garcia.
Brett Greenberg, The Tuscaloosa News: UCLA – The Bruins have one loss at home and have four batters with 10-plus home runs. They'll cruise to OKC.
Glenn Guilbeau, The Daily Advertiser:UCLA – Virginia Tech will not be in town long enough for the Universal Studios tour as UCLA sweeps by easily.
Marc Weiszer, Athens Banner Herald:UCLA –The Bruins are 28-1 at home. Virginia Tech went unbeaten in the Tempe Regional, but are making just their second ever super regional appearance.
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