After a thrilling super regional round, we can finally get started with the College World Series in Omaha this weekend. Some favorites are here, like Wake Forest and LSU, along with somewhat surprising names like Oral Roberts and TCU. Let’s dive into some of the best college baseball tournament bets on the board for today, Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17.
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College Baseball World Series 2023 Betting Odds & Picks: June 16 & 17
Bracket 2: Oral Roberts vs. TCU | Friday, June 16 at 2 p.m. ET
The TCU Horned Frogs steamrolled their way to Omaha. After a disappointing regular season, TCU dominated the Big 12 tournament — the Horned Frogs won all four of their games by an average margin of 8.3 runs per game. Next, they dominated the Fayetteville Regional and won all three games by 10.3 runs per game. Last weekend, they took the Fort Worth Super Regional in two games by an average margin of 2.5. The Horned Frogs haven’t lost since May 18.
They’ll line up against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles early Friday afternoon in Bracket 2. Although Oral Roberts has been good, their path to Omaha was easier than TCU’s, and they didn’t look quite as impressive. The Golden Eagles easily handled the Summit League tournament and won all three games by an average margin of 8.3. They upset Oklahoma State early in Stillwater and won that regional by an average of two runs per game. Last weekend, they took the Eugene Super Regional two games to one with an average margin of 1.7.
We’re backing TCU on the run line for Friday. The Golden Eagles may rival the Horned Frogs offensively, as they outrank them in most metrics for the season, but TCU’s recent dominance against highly ranked programs warrants some trust here. Oral Roberts has gone 6-4 against top-25 programs in the RPI this year. TCU has gone a far more impressive 12-3 against top-25 programs. Although they are only 3-11 against teams ranked 26 to 50 like Oral Roberts, there’s too much on the line for the Horned Frogs to play down to their competition.
College Baseball World Series Bet: TCU -1.5 +104 at FanDuel
Bracket 1: LSU vs. Tennessee | Saturday, June 17 at 7 p.m. ET
Games like this one are why we have the College World Series. The LSU Tigers, who were the top team in the preseason, will take on the surging Tennessee Volunteers in the opening round. Barring any surprises, Tennessee will start ace RHP Andrew Lindsey (3-3), while LSU will start ace RHP Paul Skenes (12-2). The Tigers have an advantage on the mound, but how much of one?
These teams last met back in late March. RHP Chase Dollander (7-6) was still working as Tennessee’s top option then, so we didn’t get a matchup between Lindsey and Skenes. Skenes started the first game of the series and lasted seven innings while allowing a single earned run. Lindsey entered in relief in the second game and threw the final 4.2 innings while also allowing a single earned run.
The books are absolutely correct to favor LSU here — and by a healthy margin. LSU sits at DraftKings. That said, I’m more interested in the total, which opened at 9.5. The Volunteers and Tigers combined to score only seven runs the last time Skenes took the mound. That came in Baton Rouge and with Dollander starting. A Skenes-Lindsey matchup would likely prove to be a true pitcher’s duel, so give me the under for a half unit.
College Baseball World Series Bet: Under 9.5 -110 for 0.5 Unit at DraftKings
