We're coming down the stretch of the college baseball season, giving us a perfect opportunity to look at some high-profile teams before the regular season wraps up.
With that said, I dove into Friday's matchups for a few key series, including Texas vs. Arkansas, NC State vs. Miami and Kentucky vs. Mississippi State.
Let's dive into my college baseball picks and NCAA baseball predictions for these matchups on Friday, May 2.
Note: While parlaying these picks isn't our official recommendation, we've put together an easy way to do so below.
NC State vs. Miami Pick
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -120 | 10.5 -115o / -115u | -200 |
| Miami Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 10.5 -115o / -115u | +160 |
NC State and Miami are both coming into this series with some strong momentum, but something’s got to give.
The Wolfpack caught fire in April, going 10-2 in the ACC. However, it should be noted that three of their four series victories were at home against Clemson, Louisville and Virginia. They also swept Cal, but that isn't exactly a standout achievement.
At the end of March, they had a series loss to Duke, which might raise an eyebrow.
On the flip side, Miami's been crushing it, winning four straight ACC series, including a clean sweep over Georgia Tech — a team we were buzzing about a couple of weeks back.
For this opening matchup, in particular, it's important to note that Miami pitcher Griffin Hugus currently boasts a lower FIP than NC State's Dom Fritton.
I'm taking Miami in the opening game against NC State. Looking at the series as a whole, I think Miami holds the edge, especially considering the Wolfpack might be a bit overvalued in the market after their hot streak.
Pick: Miami ML +160
Kentucky vs. Mississippi State Pick
| Kentucky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -125 | 10.5 -115o / -115u | +140 |
| Mississippi State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -105 | 10.5 -115o / -115u | -180 |
It seems like Kentucky might have its hands full with Mississippi State this weekend, especially considering the hot streak of Bulldogs pitcher Pico Kohn.
Kohn has been killing it recently, particularly during his home appearances.
When he faced Florida's fierce lineup at Dudy Noble two weeks ago, he put up five solid innings, allowed just two earned runs and racked up an impressive 11 strikeouts. That's a killer K/9 rate.
Moreover, his expected ERA is sitting nicely below 4.00, making him one of the standout starting pitchers in the SEC. So, I'm backing Kohn all the way here.
I've got him projected at -190. However, the Kentucky vs. Mississippi State series seems like one where the line will hover around -120 on both sides throughout the series, making this a prime opportunity to back the Bulldogs.
Pick: Mississippi State ML
Texas vs. Arkansas Pick
| Texas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -115 | 12.5 -115o / -115u | +154 |
| Arkansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -115 | 12.5 -115o / -115u | -200 |
I'm definitely favoring Arkansas in this matchup. For Game 2, I'm projecting the Razorbacks as -160 favorites with Gage Wood on the mound.
The Wood and Gabe Gaeckle combo will be key here, with Wood starting and Gaeckle finishing things up.
If you're wondering about Arkansas' recent series losses, it's worth noting they've come through in Game 2 in their recent matchups against Texas A&M and Florida thanks to the Wood-Gaeckle connection.
I was hoping to get an inflated line on Arkansas coming into the series. While that might not happen on the same scale after a dominant 9-0 win for the Hogs in Game 1, I'll be looking for the Hogs to secure the series on Friday.
Pick: Arkansas ML -150 or Better
