For the fourth time in six trips to the Super Regionals, Rice will be playing in a winner-take-all game on the road to Omaha. In the eight years since this round was added to the NCAA Tournament, 50 of 61 teams that won the first game of the Supers has gone on to the College World Series. Three of the eleven exceptions have involved the Owls. In 1999, they lost the first game to Louisiana-Lafayette before winning the final two games, and repeated the feat in 2003 against cross-town rival Houston. Last year, Rice took the first game of the New Orleans Super Regional before Tulane rallied to take the final two games of the series. The Owls look to avoid a repeat performance this season, as they face their first elimination game in five outings this postseason.

Oklahoma has had their backs against the wall throught the NCAA Tournament. They won four straight games after losing the opener in the Norman regional, and responded to their series opening loss by winning yesterday to force today's game. The offense has been the key as the Sooners battled back, as they have scored at least seven runs in each of their five victories and hit double digits three times.

Rice's deep pitching staff would seem to favor the Owls in today's game, but Oklahoma has battered the Rice staff for 26 runs in the two games not started by Eddie Degerman. In addition to starter Craig Crow, head coach Wayne Graham has yet to use Joe Savery (5-1, 2.76) and Cole St. Clair (5-2, 1.55) this weekend. Righty fireballer Bryce Cox (4-1, 4.62) should also be available after throwing in the opener. Sunny Golloway will like pitch by committee as he looks for a hot hand on his staff. Other than yesterday's starter Daniel McCutchen, everyone else should be available for Oklahoma.

Ryan Rohlinger leads the offense for the Sooners, and has gone 6-for-9 with a homer so far this weekend. Every OU starter had a hit in yesterday's 11-5 win, so hot bats abound in the lineup. Rice has hit more home runs this weekend, as six different Owls have gone deep so far this series. Greg Buchanan is 5-for-9 after two games, and Kenny Ford will start at DH again today after hitting his first collegiate long ball on Sunday.

The weather will likely play a factor in today's game, especially among the pitchers. Game time temperature should be around 90, rising into the upper 90s by the end of the game. At least this isn't in Austin, where the temps would be 25 degrees warmer on the artificial turf...