It's elimination day at the College World Series, as four teams' national title hopes are on the line.
Troy looks to continue its Cinderella story and avenge its loss to West Virginia. Meanwhile, Texas and Georgia meet again for another heavyweight matchup.
Let’s dive into my College World Series picks and NCAA baseball predictions for Tuesday, June 16.
College World Series Picks, Predictions
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that Action Network's Doug Ziefel is targeting from Tuesday's slate of College World Series 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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 2 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. | ||
Troy vs West Virginia Pick
The Troy Trojans have continued to surprise us all postseason long. However, it's clear they're not your typical Cinderella. This team is legit and has just as much offense as any other team on their side of the bracket.
Their win over Ole Miss was a statement and a major confidence boost. That win marked their first win in Omaha in program history, and now they have a shot at a West Virginia team they almost upset in the first game of the College World Series.
It's no coincidence that the total for this matchup is listed at 12.5 after the first meeting between these teams ended with 12 runs. However, this matchup is poised to exceed that number for two big reasons.
The first is the wind. We've seen the wind play a huge role in the scoring this past week, and it's going to continue to be a big factor this afternoon. Winds are projected to gust up to 20 mph out toward left field.
Secondly, the pitching in this matchup will be downgraded compared to the opener. West Virginia is starting Dawson Montesa, who holds a 5.78 ERA, and Troy is going with Cooper Ellingworth, whose ERA is worse at 6.15.
While it's possible we could see each of the starters from Friday come in relief, both lineups had success, and that may not put out the fire as each manager would hope.
Take the over. These teams will trade haymakers in an effort to play another day.
Pick: Over 12.5 (-115 · Play to -120)
| |
Texas vs Georgia Pick
We move to the nightcap, where it's only right that we get Round 2 between Texas and Georgia. The Bulldogs capitalized on some rare defensive miscues from the Longhorns to pull away in a hurry on Saturday.
That, combined with Joey Volchko pitching the game of his college career, has made the Bulldogs the favorites in this matchup after Texas closed around -130 in the first meeting.
However, I have futures tickets on both teams from the preseason, so I have neither a Dawg nor a Longhorn in this fight, but the weather conditions for this matchup have created value on the total.
The wind will still be blowing out during this game, but it will calm down considerably. That takes away a big boost from two lineups that frankly don't even need it.
Historically, Charles Schwab Field has been an excellent pitchers' park, averaging around 2.5 fewer runs per game. In addition to the wind, the shadows in the early innings played a big role in Georgia's game last night, as its lineup started slowly against Xander Mercurius.
Luke Harrison and Dylan Vigue are more than capable starters, and each is backed up by solid bullpens that are well rested. All signs point to a lower-scoring battle between two of the nation's best here.
Pick: Under 13.5 (-115 · Play to -125)
