We've made it to Omaha.
After a long college baseball postseason that started with 64 teams, we're down to eight. With matchups set for the opening round, I've found a few bets I'm looking to cash in on.
With that said, let's take a look at some college baseball odds and College World Series best bets for the 2025 edition in Omaha.
College Baseball Picks for 2025 College World Series
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | Friday, 7 p.m. | |
  | Saturday, 2 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. For more college baseball content, check out our NCAA Baseball page. | ||
Louisville vs Oregon State Pick
Louisville's pitching is a bit of a rollercoaster, and Patrick Forbes is right at the heart of it.
The guy can be incredible with striking out batters, but he also has a habit of giving out walks like they're candy. Now, he's facing an Oregon State lineup that’s cooking, so free passes will not be his friend.
On the other side, Oregon State will hand the ball to freshman phenom Dax Whitney, who's been on fire lately, giving up just six earned runs over his past 26 2/3 innings.
But he's just a freshman. He got thrown into a high-pressure situation during Super Regionals, and he looked a bit shaky at first. The talent is certainly there, as he gave up only one run and racked up 10 strikeouts in his 4 2/3 innings against Florida State, but he also gave up four hits and three walks.
It’s only natural he'd have some nerves, and it wouldn’t be surprising if those show up again in the first couple of innings against Louisville.
All in all, I see Oregon State coming out on top in this matchup. The total sits at 10 right now, but I'd peg it higher and project it at 11.6.
If Whitney starts shaky and Forbes lets some batters on base, Oregon State will likely cash in on those opportunities. So, with these dynamics at play, going over the current total makes a lot of sense.
Pick: Over 9.5
| |
Murray State vs UCLA Pick
Murray State has a knack for lighting up the scoreboard every time someone steps away from the TV to go make a sandwich, and it’s no accident.
The secret? A lineup that ranks 11th out of 307 Division I teams when it comes to strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Racers have impeccable pitch selection that allows them to get on base and make things happen.
Now, while their offense is something to admire, their bullpen is quite frankly one of the worst in Omaha. So, while they might not win the whole thing, they can still give UCLA a run for its money.
The key challenge here is UCLA starting pitcher Michael Barnett. He doesn't issue any walks — only 18 in about 81 innings — which isn't great news if Murray State plans to stroll its way to runs through walks.
However, there's a silver lining. Murray State +2.5 on the run line is a bet because once Barnett is done for the day and UCLA’s bullpen steps in, the Racers can take advantage. Murray State could potentially rack up some runs and even snag the win outright if the Bruins' bullpen doesn’t hold up because that unit will walk opposing batters.
If you can get your hands on a first-five innings bet for UCLA, it’s probably a smart move.
But once Barnett's off the mound, watch for Murray State to make its move, especially against pitchers who have trouble locating.
The Racers are all about selecting the right pitches and capitalizing on any erratic pitching they encounter this weekend.
Pick: Murray State +2.5 (-115)
