College Baseball Odds, Picks: Our Best Bets for Friday’s Season-Opening Games
Eakin Howard/Getty Images. Pictured: Clemson’s Cam Cannarella.
College Baseball Odds, Picks
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| 11 a.m. | ||
| 12 p.m. | ||
| 2 p.m. | ||
| 4 p.m. | ||
| 7:30 p.m. | ||
| 4 & 7:30 p.m. | ||
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
While the first day of spring is still a little over a month away, baseball gets to come out of hibernation early with the 2024 college baseball season beginning today.
The first weekend of the season is packed with action. We'll see all the nation's best teams take the field, and we'll learn a lot about them with a flurry of mini-tournaments happening all around the country.
Without further ado, let's dive into our college baseball best bets for Opening Day.
Indiana vs. Duke
The season's first pitch will be thrown bright and early in Conway, S.C. The No. 12-ranked Duke Blue Devils will look to get off on the right track after a Regional appearance last season, and we'll see their recipe for success in this matchup.
It all starts with their ace, Jonathan Santucci.
Santucci was a budding star in 2023, striking out 50 batters in just 29.1 innings of work. Unfortunately for Duke, he missed most of the season with an injury, but he was healthy for fall practices and reports say he was as dominant as ever.
Duke's entire staff is the strength of this club. It boasts one of the most complete bullpens in the country. We saw the Blue Devils utilize their bullpen in many spots, as they deployed openers and got multiple innings out of their top arms.
While we certainly should not expect them to lock down a talented Indiana lineup, the Blue Devils will undoubtedly have the edge against the majority of the Hoosiers' bats.
The other side of this matchup is where things get interesting. With Luke Sinnard out after having Tommy John surgery, sophomore Brayden Risedorph is projected to get the ball for Indiana.
Risedorph showed he had plenty of stuff last season as a reliever. He held a 4.47 ERA with 10.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Indiana will also have a great reinforcement behind him in Ryan Kraft, who posted a 2.48 ERA last season and showed he can not only shut down games in the ninth but also provide length out of the pen.
The Hoosiers' staff will have a lot of questions to answer with the loss of Sinnard, but considering Duke lost seven everyday bats from last season, we may not see the same firepower early on.
Take the under.
Pick: Under 11.5 (-115)
Nebraska vs. Baylor
We've seen the market move in favor of the Cornhuskers this week after opening as slight underdogs at +100. However, it's easy to see why they're getting early market support heading into their first matchup of the season.
Nebraska has been a consistent force at the dish for multiple seasons now, and this year will be no different. It dove into the transfer portal and found plenty of JUCO gems to fill its lineup.
Both the returning and new bats will be up against a Baylor pitching staff that's questionable, to say the least. Projected to get the ball for the Bears is Mason Marriott, who went 1-7 with a 7.67 ERA in 14 starts last season.
The pitcher likely opposing him for Nebraska will be Drew Christo.
Christo dominated in his 11 appearances last season, holding opposing hitters to a .190 batting average and picking up over one strikeout per inning. It will be interesting to see how his stuff plays as he's stretched out.
Back the Cornhuskers to be undefeated heading into Saturday.
Pick: Nebraska ML -115
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Oregon State vs. New Mexico
It's no surprise to see the Beavers from Corvallis ranked in the top 10 to begin the season. Oregon State has a proven winning pedigree and is loaded with experience.
The Beavers' lineup is stacked, and it all starts at the top with second baseman Travis Bazzana. He's a five-tool talent who could play himself into the top spot in this year's MLB Draft if he can repeat or even improve on his monster 2023 campaign.
Oregon State should have no trouble against a New Mexico team that will be very green entering the 2024 season. The Lobos lost five bats who hit above .297 last season and have filled their rotation with a pair of JUCO arms.
We should see OSU hand the ball to Aiden May. The transfer from Arizona brings electric stuff along with him. He and the Beavers' big bats should set the tone for the year with a dominant win.
Pick: Oregon State -3.5 (-125)
Oklahoma vs. Oregon
The market has moved in favor of the Ducks throughout the week, but this opening matchup will be a taste of the upside this Sooners team presents. Oklahoma is just two years removed from a national runner-up spot, and some of that experience remains on the roster.
The Sooners' lineup features a combination of maturity, discipline and speed. They have players who can get on base and also make things happen when they get there, as their four outfielders combined for 80 stolen bases last season.
A big reason why the market is moving against Oklahoma is its starting rotation.
The Sooners' arms are largely unproven, but the upside of this staff is massive. We could see either left-hander James Hitt or Texas Tech transfer Brendan Girton. Either pitcher will be a solid option, as they each have tremendous stuff, and there will be a slew of power arms behind them.
Oregon — a team known for its elite power over the past two seasons — will have a new identity this year. The Ducks have only two bats returning from last season.
On the mound, the Oregon pitching staff has plenty of experience considering many of its freshmen were thrust into more prominent roles because of injury last season. However, only one arm on the Ducks' staff held an ERA under four last year, and that's Quinnipiac transfer Kevin Seitter.
Look for Oklahoma's experience to help it scratch out a win in its season opener.
Pick: Oklahoma ML -120
Oklahoma State vs. Sam Houston
This will be a fun game to watch with both of these lineups being loaded with firepower.
Led by Nolan Schubart and two-way star Carson Benge, Oklahoma State is going to slug its way to many wins this year. However, those two are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to pop in this lineup.
On the other side, Sam Houston brings a host of sluggers to Conference USA.
Its stud is catcher and preseason CUSA Player of the Year Walker Janek, who can swing it as well as any backstop. He's protected by Easton Loyd, who hit seven homers and drove in 52 runs last season.
While both lineups can mash, what makes the over the side we want is the question marks surrounding both pitching staffs. The Cowboys have some power arms in their staff, but command is a real issue.
Meanwhile, the Bearkats' staff just may not be up to the task against a powerful lineup like Oklahoma State's.
Senior Coltin Atkinson will likely get the ball. Atkinson — who posted a 4.80 ERA and .266 BAA last season — throws a ton of strikes but has a fastball that sits in the mid-80s. He may provide some excellent batting practice if he misses any spots.
Take the over, as both teams should trade haymakers.
Pick: Over 13.5
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Clemson vs. TCU
Leg 1: Clemson ML -215 vs. Xavier
The No. 10-ranked Clemson Tigers come into 2024 boasting a very well-rounded roster. They have one of the top outfield duos in the country in Will Taylor and Cam Cannarella, who are set to lead the way offensively.
Their main concern is they lack a true ace with the departure of Caden Grice. However, the Tigers have an excellent bullpen headlined by Nick Clayton and Reed Garris that should provide ample support to any falters the starters have.
As for Xavier, we'll see one of its three excellent starters in this one. Although, the issue is at the dish. The Musketeers don't have the firepower to keep up with the Tigers.
Leg 2: TCU ML -280 vs. FGCU
It's clear the Horned Frogs should be priced higher than this. They come into this season ranked No. 5 in the nation with all the potential to make back-to-back trips to Omaha.
A big part of that upside is the man we'll see on the mound in this matchup.
Payton Tolle is their prized two-way transfer from Wichita State. Tolle has light tower power at the dish but has proven to have great stuff on the bump. He and superstar sophomore shortstop Anthony Silva will lead a potent Horned Frogs offense.
They'll face a Florida Gulf Coast team that's wholly retooled after a banner year in 2023.
The Eagles brought in 12 transfers and 10 freshmen to fill out spots in the lineup and two rotation spots. While they have talent, they lack the pop they had last season that allowed them to compete with power conference clubs.
Pick: Clemson & TCU ML Parlay -102
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