2025 College World Series Odds
 | Arkansas Razorbacks | +195 |
 | LSU Tigers | +230 |
 | Coastal Carolina Chanticleers | +600 |
 | Oregon State Beavers | +650 |
 | UCLA Bruins | +800 |
 | Arizona Wildcats | +1400 |
 | Louisville Cardinals | +1700 |
 | Murray State Racers | +5000 |
And then there were eight. This week, eight teams make the trip to Omaha, Nebraska, for the 2025 College World Series.
The college baseball postseason has given us everything we could’ve asked for and more. We're guaranteed to have a new national champion, as none of the teams remaining made the trip to Omaha last season.
With that said, let’s dive into our College World Series picks and NCAA baseball predictions to see which team will be making a dogpile at Charles Schwab Field.
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Arizona vs Coastal Carolina Pick, Best Bets
| Arizona Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -105 | 9.5 -115o / -115u | +175 |
| Coastal Carolina Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -125 | 9.5 -115o / -115u | -230 |
The Arizona Wildcats are a prime example of a team peaking at the right time.
They got hot and won the Big 12 Tournament, carried that momentum through the Eugene Regional, and made it past the Tar Heels in the Chapel Hill Super Regional.
That earned them a date with the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers to open up the College World Series.
However, Coastal Carolina presents a similar challenge to the one the Wildcats saw in Chapel Hill, as they will have to contend with an elite pitching staff.
Likely getting the ball for Coastal Carolina is Cameron Flukey. Flukey has been tremendous, pitching to a 3.24 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP this season.
He’s been even better in the postseason, dominating Fairfield in the Conway Regional and battling hard against Auburn in his Super Regional outing.
But the Wildcats’ bats have been rolling, ranking 16th in wRC+ over their last 10 games.
The backend of their rotation is also a big reason why they're here. However, the excellent pitching performances exclude Owen Kramkowski, who’s projected to get the ball here.
Kramkowski comes into this outing after allowing eight earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings against North Carolina. While we shouldn't expect another blow-up outing from Kramkowski, he's facing another powerful lineup in a Chanticleers team that ranks 57th in wRC+ and 91st in OPS against righties.
The biggest separator between these two teams could be the bullpens. Coastal has one of the best bullpens in the country. The Chants' pen ranked fifth in ERA and 18th in WHIP, and they're due for little regression.
As for the Wildcats, their bullpen held it down against UNC, but has a collective xFIP of 5.48 over their last 10 games. That will be a concern if Kramkowski struggles again.
Pick: Coastal Carolina -1.5 (-109 · BetRivers)
Louisville vs Oregon State Pick, Best Bets
| Louisville Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -145 | 10 -115o / -115u | +124 |
| Oregon State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +114 | 10 -110o / -110u | -160 |
In Game 2 of the College World Series, we have a potential pitcher’s duel on our hands.
Louisville’s Patrick Forbes and Oregon State’s Dax Whitney are two of the top arms in Omaha, and one thing we should expect in this matchup is plenty of strikeouts.
Forbes ranked 13th nationally, averaging 14.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Whitney is right behind him at 15th with 14 strikeouts per nine innings.
These two have the ability to dominate, but Forbes could have the edge between the two.
While the Oregon State lineup has been red-hot, it strikes out quite a bit. The Beavers rank 218th in strikeout rate and sit 232nd against right-handed pitching specifically.
The key for both of these starters is to limit the free passes, and that's where Whitney can excel because Louisville becomes especially aggressive against right-handed pitching.
The Cardinals ranked 245th in walk rate against righties. So, while their strikeout rates are low, their aggressiveness could work against them, allowing Whitney to work efficiently.
Once the starters depart, it won’t be much easier for the lineups to get going. Both bullpens will be well-rested, and the arms the Beavers bring out of the 'pen are solid. Oregon State’s bullpen ranked 24th in ERA, 28th in WHIP and 21st in strikeouts per nine innings.
Louisville’s bullpen doesn't compare as a collective, but it has two top-notch arms in Wyatt Danilowicz and Jake Schweitzer, who should be deployed.
Take the full-game under here, and don’t be afraid to play the Cardinals on a first five moneyline if we get one.
Pick: F5 Under 5.5 (-110 · bet365)
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Bracket 1 Pick, Best Bets
Heading into Super Regionals, I was very high on North Carolina making it out of this side of the bracket. However, with its departure, everything is wide open.
Each of these teams has shown that they can take down elite competition, but in Omaha, pitching depth is critical because teams could wind up playing four times in as little as six days.
There are two clubs with tremendous pitching depth in this bracket: Coastal Carolina and Oregon State. Each has great bullpens and multiple trusted starting options.
However, the value is on the Chanticleers to come out of this bracket and challenge for the national title.
Pick: Coastal Carolina to Win Bracket 1 (+130 · BetRivers)
Murray State vs UCLA Pick, Best Bets
| Murray State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -115 | 11 -115o / -115u | +210 |
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -115 | 11 -115o / -115u | -280 |
Cinderella stories in the College World Series are rare, but this year, the glass slipper fits the Murray State Racers. The Racers have slugged their way to Omaha by outhitting the likes of Ole Miss, Georgia Tech and Duke along the way.
However, in their opening matchup of the College World Series, it could be their ace that steals the show. Nic Schutte has been the go-to guy for Murray State on the hill, pitching to a 4.55 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP and a strikeout per nine rate of 9.4 this season.
Schutte has struggled in the postseason, as Duke and Ole Miss made him work around plenty of traffic. Still, Schutte gives the Racers an opportunity to contain a UCLA lineup that's slightly worse against right-handed pitching than against lefties.
On the other side of this matchup, we get to see the red-hot Racers lineup go up against the Bruins' Michael Barnett. Barnett has displayed excellent command, but he doesn't miss many bats.
Over Barnett’s last three starts, he has averaged just 2.9 strikeouts per nine innings. That's a lot of contact to work around against any lineup, and it should give the Racers the chance to create traffic. In fact, Murray State ranks 16th in OPS and boasts the 12th-lowest strikeout rate against right-handed pitching.
My one concern is the Murray State bullpen. The Racers don't have many quality options after Graham Kelham, who recently threw three shutout innings against Duke.
Murray State is the side to back after I doubted it heavily against the Blue Devils. As the old saying goes, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em."
Pick: Murray State +2.5 (-115 · DraftKings)
| | | |
LSU vs Arkansas Pick, Best Bets
| LSU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -200 | 10 -120o / -110u | -110 |
| Arkansas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +154 | 10 -120o / -110u | -120 |
It’s a shame that these two SEC powerhouses wound up on the same side of the bracket, but it’s great that they face off in the opening round. For that reason, we get to see them at full strength with both aces on the mound.
This will be Round 2 between LSU’s Kade Anderson and Arkansas’ Zach Root. Back in May, these two dueled in Baton Rouge, where Arkansas led, 3-2, by the time both pitchers departed in the seventh.
That game wound up being a classic, as the Tigers won in the 10th. This second meeting has the potential to deliver as well.
In the first matchup, Arkansas put up three runs on seven hits against Anderson, but it also struck out 10 times. If they can cut down on the strikeouts, the Razorbacks should get to Anderson again. The Hogs have crushed left-handed pitching this season, ranking fourth in wRC+ and OPS against lefties.
The Tigers' splits, meanwhile, are the opposite. They’ve done much more damage against righties while also having a much higher strikeout rate against left-handed pitching.
Those splits point to success for Root, who’s been dialed in during the postseason. Root threw six shutout innings of three-hit ball against Creighton and then followed it up with seven innings against Tennessee, where his only blemish was a solo homer.
The arms that come in after Root and company are what make the Razorback the favorite to win it all. The Arkansas bullpen has depth and length unlike any other.
As a unit, the Hogs ranked fourth in ERA and WHIP while ranking second in SIERA. On top of that, they've had the best xFIP in the country over their last 10 games.
Back Arkansas to take this matchup and begin their march toward a national title.
Pick: Arkansas ML -120
Bracket 2 Pick, Best Bets
This bracket will come down to one of the two SEC clubs, and the first game will be crucial in terms of who makes it to the College World Series final.
I’ve planted my flag by taking Arkansas in its opening matchup because this team is built to succeed in Omaha.
Not only do the Razorbacks have the edge over LSU on Saturday, but their pitching depth and the nation’s best defense only bolster them for the rest of the bracket.
Take the Hogs to compete for a national title for the first time since 2018.
Pick: Arkansas to Win Bracket 2 (+105)
