It's officially May, which means the college baseball postseason is inching closer.
Today's slate is loaded with conference action, and I have my eye on 3 games, in particular: Arizona State vs. UCF in the Big 12, TCU vs. Oklahoma State in the Big 12 and Mississippi State vs. Texas in a top-10 SEC showdown.
Let's dive into my three college baseball picks and NCAA baseball predictions for Friday, May 1.
College Baseball Picks, Predictions for Friday, May 1
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that Action Network's Doug Ziefel is targeting from Friday's slate of NCAA baseball games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:30 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 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 NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Arizona State vs UCF Pick
The Sun Devils have been rolling as they come into this series, winning seven of their last 10 ballgames. As we've seen with this Arizona State team, when it hits, it has the potential to take down any team in its path.
Arizona State has averaged 9.1 runs per game in its most recent 10-game stretch, and it's poised to stay hot against UCF tonight.
While doing so on paper seems tough against Knights ace Mateo Gray, he doesn't profile for much success against the powerful bats in the Sun Devils' order.
His xFIP of 5.49 is a bit more telling than his season ERA of 4.40. If Gray isn't at his best, the Knights' bullpen hasn't been great behind him this season, and we could see the Sun Devils pour it on.
Of course, this is all in support of Arizona State starter Cole Carlon.
Carlon is one of the most electric left-handers in the country. Although he has been inconsistent this season, his high strikeout upside should shine through against a UCF lineup that lacks the pop to put up crooked numbers.
There's a large gap on the mound in this one, and the Sun Devils' hot bats will only amplify it. Back Arizona State to take this series opener.
Pick: Arizona State ML -125
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TCU vs Oklahoma State Pick
It has been an up-and-down campaign for TCU after it began the year looking like the top team in the Big 12. Much of that was due to the upside of its pitching staff.
However, an injury to Tommy LaPour and inconsistency from Mason Brassfield created a margin that the bats weren't able to make up for.
While the Horned Frogs have turned a corner in multiple aspects, both health-wise and winning eight of their last 10, going into Stillwater is no easy task.
Oklahoma State was a team that was a bit overlooked, as it didn't have the talent on paper that it had in years past. However, the Pokes' offensive numbers to this point in the season speak for themselves.
The Cowboys rank 15th in the nation in wRC+ and 18th in OPS. The power in this lineup can support starting pitcher Hudson Barrett in a big way.
The lefty has battled injuries of his own this year, but he's healthy now and has pitched to a 2.99 ERA with a K/9 rate of 13 in his 26 innings of work.
So, while LaPour is expected to get the ball for the Horned Frogs tonight, it will be just his second outing since returning from injury.
His effectiveness and length are a big question mark, and the Cowboys have the ability to rally in a big way once he's out of the game.
Pick: Oklahoma State ML -110
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Mississippi State vs Texas Pick
This series is appointment television for those looking to get a peek at teams we may very well see in Omaha for the College World Series.
The Texas Longhorns have been one of the top teams in the country all season long, excelling with excellent pitching depth and timely offense.
However, the Mississippi State Bulldogs have a very similar profile and are scorching hot, having won nine of their last 10 games.
The market movement for this matchup really tells the story. The Longhorns were initially bet up after opening in the -130 range, but as limits rose, we've seen sizable buy-back on the Bulldogs.
This series opener is a true coin-flip because every aspect of these teams is very similar, from the starting pitchers to the lineups and even the bullpens.
So, with Texas getting too much love at home, Mississippi State holds plenty of value as an underdog tonight.
Pick: Mississippi State ML +124
