Sunday at 2:30 PM vs #15 Clemson Tiger
The Tigers are the highest-ranked team the Rebels will play this weekend. Baseball America has them ranked 8th. I think the Rebels have the advantage of playing them third because it doesn’t yet seem like they have the third spot in the rotation figured out, and the Rebs might get an easier shot at pulling off the upset.
Regarding who will take the bump for Ole Miss, I will go with freshman Cade Townsend. I wrote about it already, but Townsend is the best pitching prospect to make it to campus soon. He has elite stuff and looks to be a future first-rounder. You might have to live with some freshmen growing pains with him, but he gives you the best shot to win this ball game.
RHP Cade Townsend (@OleMissBSB) showing some really intriguing stuff. Pumping FB at 93-94, tight CT/SL in 85-88 range got plenty whiffs. Hammer 12-6 CB has big depth in low-80s. Threw nasty SPL for strikes to round out full mix. Fast arm & one to watch. Fr./'26 elig. pic.twitter.com/oPXbyBZCEj
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) February 8, 2025
The Clemson lineup returns a lot, most notably project first-round pick Cam Cannarella, who slashed .337/.317/.561 with 11 home runs, 60 RBIs, and an elite glove in center field. The Tigers are still looking to replace a lot of production from last season. They did get a good haul in the transfer portal with Josh Piano at SS (not sure of any relation) and Collin Priest from Michigan, who slugged .578 and put up 11 home runs. The most significant get was Purdue first baseman Luke Gaffney, who slashed .359/.449/.646 and will be a lethal bat.
This is a team with a solid lineup, but it is ranked so highly because it returns one of the better pitchers, Aidan Knaak, and has a really solid number 2, Ethan Darden. Most likely, none of those guys will throw against Ole Miss, and their rotation and pen are not as deep. I like the Rebels in an upset here.
I am projecting a 2-1 weekend for the Rebels, which would be phenomenal. Don’t get discouraged if they are 1-2 or even 0-3. They are playing three outstanding teams this weekend, and more important for this team is seeing how the pieces come together. Stay locked here at Ole Hotty Toddy, and watch for the season predictions on Wednesday. I will have recaps up for all three of these matchups this weekend.