Either way, Major League Baseball announced the 2008 spring training schedule today and I thought I'd go over the seven collegiate-MLB matchups that will take place, like they normally do, at the end of February.

February 26
Michigan at New York Mets
The Mets have played St. John's in the past, but this year it's the Wolverines who will stop by Port St. Lucie for an exhibition game to kick off the Mets' 2008 campaign. Michigan is the favorite to win the Big Ten, and taking into account the lineups we normally see at the beginning of spring training, UM may be able to pull this one out as they open their season first with a three-game set against Villanova in Port St. Lucie. If you're wondering where this came from, Mets' owner Fred Wilpon is a graduate of Michigan and has donated money back to the program in an effort to upgrade their aging facilities. This is another nice gesture by Mr. Wilpon.

Florida Southern at Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers will face a stiff test in their first spring training game of the season, as they will face the No. 3 team in the preseason Division II poll, Florida Southern. The Mocs were 44-16 last season and reached the finals of the NCAA South regional, before falling to eventual national champion Tampa. Both Florida Southern and the Tigers call Lakeland home, as the two play annually.

Miami (Fla.) at Florida Marlins
The Hurricanes have already beaten the Marlins before, back in 2005, and now with the departures of Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, they may be ripe for the picking in 2008 (I know they wouldn't have played more than a couple of innings, but just getting a Marlins zinger in). Miami has had a long tradition of playing MLB teams in exhibition games, and have never fared too well. They are just 2-25-1 (including a 12-7 loss in Jupiter to the Marlins last season). Besides the 2005 win against the Fish, you have to go back to March 10, 1982 when Miami beat the Baltimore Orioles in Coral Gables, their only win in nine tries against the O's. The other MLB teams Miami has played: Atlanta (0-2), Brooklyn Dodgers (0-5), Montreal Expos (0-2) and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (0-1).

Florida State at Philadelphia Phillies
The Seminoles will get another crack at the defending NL East champs in 2008, after a 12-4 loss in 2007. Florida State will travel down to Clearwater to open Philly's spring training schedule after opening the season with another team from Pennsylvania, when Duquesne comes to Tallahassee.

February 27
Manatee C.C. at Pittsburgh Pirates
The Lancers take on the Pirates in Bradenton, in what has become close to an annual affair. MCC fell 8-1 to Pittsburgh in the 2007 edition.

Saint Louis University at St. Louis Cardinals
Saint Louis gets the Hendrickson era off on an interesting foot in March, when the Bilikens head south to Florida for a spring break trip that includes an exhibition game against the hometown Cardinals. For a team that went 16-37 a season ago, that's quite the experience.

Georgia at Atlanta Braves
While the Bulldogs will play Georgia Tech at Turner Field later in the year, first they will play the Braves in Lake Beuna Vista. The Braves lead the all-time series, 9-0.