And then there were eight. This week, eight teams make the trip to Omaha, Nebraska, for the 2026 College World Series.
The college baseball postseason has delivered drama, upsets and the marquee matchups we’ve been waiting for.
We're guaranteed a new national champion, with a loaded field featuring five SEC teams and plenty of firepower from two teams making their first trips to Omaha in program history.
Let’s dive into our College World Series picks and NCAA baseball predictions to figure out who will be in a dogpile at Charles Schwab Field.
2026 College World Series Odds
 | Georgia Bulldogs | +275 |
 | North Carolina Tar Heels | +275 |
 | Texas Longhorns | +300 |
 | West Virginia Mountaineers | +750 |
 | Ole Miss Rebels | +800 |
 | Alabama Crimson Tide | +1400 |
 | Oklahoma Sooners | +1600 |
 | Troy Trojans | +3500 |
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Troy vs West Virginia Pick
| Troy Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 +100 | 10.5 -115o / -115u | +175 |
| West Virginia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -130 | 10.5 -115o / -115u | -230 |
Two Omaha first-timers square off to open the 2026 College World Series: the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Cinderella Sun Belt champion Troy Trojans.
West Virginia arrives red-hot after a program-record season and a Super Regional sweep of Cal Poly in which it outscored the Mustangs, 29-3.
Troy, meanwhile, fought through a brutal path in Gainesville and has momentum, but this is a significant step up in competition.
Troy vs West Virginia Pitching Matchup
Benjamin Stubbs (Troy) vs. Chansen Cole (West Virginia)
The starter battle heavily favors the Mountaineers.
Sophomore right-hander Chansen Cole (10-1, 2.85 ERA, 106 K in 94 2/3 IP) has been dominant in the postseason with multiple 10-strikeout outings.
The 6-foot-4 strike-thrower limits hard contact and fits perfectly into WVU’s staff, which boasts the best team ERA in the entire CWS field.
On the other side, senior lefty Benjamin Stubbs (6-3, 4.93 ERA) has been Troy’s Friday workhorse but remains far more hittable against quality lineups.
Troy’s bullpen can bring velocity but lacks the consistency and depth of West Virginia’s relief corps.
Troy Trojans Betting Preview
Troy brings more raw power (106 HR as a team) and can explode offensively, led by Jimmy Janicki (19 HRs) and the NCAA Tournament’s hottest hitter, Jabe Boroff.
However, the Trojans' Quad 1 record of 10-13 this season raises a red flag against an ace like Cole on a big stage.
West Virginia Mountaineers Betting Preview
West Virginia’s success has a ton to do with its elite defense, ranking 23rd in fielding percentage.
At the dish, the Mountaineers are much more contact-oriented as opposed to power-based, boasting a team batting average of .307 and an OBP of .410.
They don’t hit many homers, but they grind out runs and play clean baseball, which often leads to big innings
Troy vs West Virginia Prediction
Omaha’s early games often play pitcher-friendly, especially with two debutants feeling the spotlight.
Cole should set a strong tone with swing-and-miss stuff that also minimizes hard contact when put in play, while West Virginia’s deeper bullpen can shut things down late.
Even against a lineup that has been on an incredible surge like the one Troy’s has been, the Mountaineers’ edges in the little things will allow them to pull away on the scoreboard and move into the winner’s bracket.
Pick: West Virginia -1.5 (-115 · theScore Bet)
Ole Miss vs UNC Pick
| Ole Miss Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -154 | 8.5 -120o / -110u | +124 |
| UNC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +120 | 8.5 -120o / -110u | -160 |
Two battle-tested programs meet in a high-stakes Friday night showdown as the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Ole Miss Rebels face off.
North Carolina cruised through its Regional but was pushed to its final three outs before walking off USC in Game 3 of their Super Regional.
On the other side, Ole Miss battled its way through a rugged path, sweeping the Lincoln Regional before knocking off Auburn in the Super Regional.
The Rebels arrive with a ton of momentum and have proven they can do it all.
Ole Miss vs UNC Pitching Matchup
Hunter Elliott (Ole Miss) vs. Jason DeCaro (UNC)
Jason DeCaro, the Tar Heels’ Friday ace, enters with an outstanding 11-2 record and a 2.28 ERA. He’s a strike-thrower who generates weak contact and sets up a deep, high-quality bullpen led by standout reliever Caden Glauber.
UNC’s staff ranks eighth in the country in ERA but has some room for regression, ranking 42nd in SIERA.
For Ole Miss, Hunter Elliott gives the Rebels a quality left-handed look.
Elliott has already shown he can shine in Omaha, as he's the lone member of the Rebels' 2022 national championship squad. Expect him to be sharp against UNC’s disciplined lineup.
As a staff, Ole Miss has quietly been one of the best in the country all year long, ranking third in xFIP and fourth in SIERA.
Ole Miss Rebels Betting Preview
This is an offensive juggernaut built on raw power that cranked out 107 homers with a .384 OBP and .465 SLG.
The middle of the order — featuring Judd Utermark, Tristan Bissetta and several other thumpers — can explode at any moment and has shown the ability to come from behind against quality pitching.
UNC Tar Heels Betting Preview
The Tar Heels win with contact, plate discipline (.415 OBP) and clean defense.
Standouts include transfer outfielder Owen Hull (.390 BA, 81 RBIs) and Gavin Gallagher (12 HRs, 54 RBIs), who started on the last UNC team that made a trip to the College World Series in 2024.
The Tar Heels grind at-bats and play fundamentally sound baseball on both sides of the ball.
Ole Miss vs UNC Prediction
This has the makings of a classic pitcher’s duel early that could open up once the bullpens get involved.
While UNC brings the pedigree and experience, Ole Miss has the SEC grit, proven tournament resilience and the kind of power that plays up on the big neutral-field stage in Omaha.
The Rebels represent strong value here.
Public money is likely to flow toward the more familiar Tar Heels, but Ole Miss has the offensive firepower and momentum to steal this game and set a strong tone in the bracket.
Pick: Ole Miss ML +130
| | | |
Bracket 1 Betting Analysis
Bracket 1 pits two first-time Omaha participants, West Virginia and Troy, against two proven powers with deep pedigrees in North Carolina and Ole Miss.
On paper, this side of the bracket looks like a battle of pitching depth versus offensive explosiveness, but the deeper you look, the more the Rebels stand out as the team built to survive and advance.
Ole Miss has quietly assembled the most dangerous pitching trio in this bracket.
The ascension of Taylor Rabe has been one of the biggest storylines in college baseball this season. The redshirt sophomore right-hander has surged up draft boards (now a top-100 prospect) with a mid-3s ERA, elite strikeout stuff and dominant postseason performances, including multiple six-inning, one-run outings.
Combined with Friday night ace Hunter Elliott and top prospect Cade Townsend, the Rebels now boast a legitimate Big 3 that can match or exceed the depth of both West Virginia and North Carolina over a multi-game bracket grind.
Ole Miss also leads the bracket in raw offensive firepower and has shown SEC-level resilience, repeatedly coming from behind and winning ugly when needed.
The Rebels' advanced pitching metrics show they can limit damage even when starters get into trouble, keeping them in the game at all times.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Pick
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -195 | 10 -110o / -120u | -110 |
| Alabama Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +150 | 10 -110o / -120u | -120 |
A rematch with SEC flavor takes place Saturday afternoon as the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Alabama Crimson Tide.
These teams battled in their regular-season series in Norman back in April, with Alabama taking two out of three in a tightly contested set.
Both squads earned their trips to Omaha the hard way.
Oklahoma swept Kansas in the Super Regional behind dominant pitching after upsetting No. 2 overall seed Georgia Tech in Regionals.
Meanwhile, Alabama punched through with strong arms and timely hitting but faced the weakest path of competition of any team in the field.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Pitching Matchup
Cord Rager (Oklahoma) vs. Tyler Fay (Alabama)
Cord Rager has been Oklahoma’s postseason ace.
The 6-foot-6 lefty has elevated his game dramatically, delivering sharp outings with mid-90s velocity and a plus breaking ball that has neutralized strong lineups. He gives the Sooners an excellent chance to set an early tone.
Tyler Fay, meanwhile, is a proven workhorse with big-time stuff. The junior enters at 11-4 with a 4.37 ERA and 121 strikeouts.
He has shown flashes of dominance, including a no-hitter this season against Florida. He attacks hitters with velocity and command but can become vulnerable as his pitch count rises.
Oklahoma Sooners Betting Preview
The Sooners play a balanced, opportunistic style of baseball, getting on base, capitalizing on mistakes and excelling in rally situations.
They’ve shown improved plate discipline and confidence since the regular-season meetings, especially in elimination games.
Alabama Crimson Tide Betting Preview
Alabama brings SEC power, depth and the ability to hit in bunches.
The Crimson Tide lineup features multiple threats who can go deep, but they’ve been streaky at times against quality left-handed pitching like Rager’s.
Oklahoma vs Alabama Prediction
This should be another competitive, back-and-forth battle between two teams that already know each other well.
Alabama has the pedigree and the slight head-to-head edge, but it hasn't been tested in some time.
Additionally, Oklahoma looks like a different club now than when the Crimson Tide saw them in April, riding momentum from their Super Regional win while pitching far better.
Back the Sooners to continue their streak of upsets.
Pick: Oklahoma ML -110 (DraftKings)
| | | |
Texas vs Georgia Pick
| Texas Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +124 | 10.5 -110o / -120u | -135 |
| Georgia Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -160 | 10.5 -110o / -120u | +105 |
We have a heavyweight SEC matchup on tap, as the Georgia Bulldogs take on the Texas Longhorns in a classic showdown of elite pitching and top-25 home run power.
Georgia arrives with one of the deepest lineups in Omaha and a red-hot streak, having won 19 of their last 20 games.
However, Texas brings a historical pedigree, the deepest pitching staff in the bracket and plenty of talent at the dish in its own right.
Texas vs Georgia Pitching Matchup
Dylan Volantis (Texas) vs. Joey Volchko (Georgia)
Texas' Dylan Volantis, the 6-foot-6 sophomore, has been one of the best pitchers in the country in 2026. He sits at 10-1 with a 2.03 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings of work. Opponents are hitting just .192 against him.
A National Pitcher of the Year candidate and Golden Spikes semifinalist, Volantis has been dominant in the postseason with elite command, swing-and-miss stuff and the ability to go deep into games.
Joey Volchko, a transfer from Stanford, has been solid as Georgia’s ace. He comes in with a 10-2 record, along with a 4.07 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 86 1/3 innings pitched.
The 6-foot-4 right-hander has premium stuff and flashed dominance in the Regionals, but he has shown some inconsistency against top competition.
That includes his most recent outing against Mississippi State, where he allowed seven runs over five innings, six of which came in the second inning.
Texas Longhorns Betting Preview
Texas features a balanced, dangerous lineup with power throughout and strong defense.
Standouts include catcher Carson Tinney (.333, 22 HRs, 58 RBIs), right fielder Aiden Robbins (.342, 24 HRs) and several transfer threats who can go deep.
The Longhorns' staff depth (14th nationally in ERA) gives them an advantage in a long bracket run.
Georgia Bulldogs Betting Preview
The Bulldogs may have the deepest offense in the CWS, led by the SEC Player of the Year in catcher Daniel Jackson (.396, 31 HRs, 86 RBIs, tops in the field) and a lineup that hits for both average and power (174 team HRs, most in the nation).
They score in bunches and have been nearly unstoppable lately.
Texas vs Georgia Prediction
This is a true coin-flip classic with two loaded rosters, but Texas holds the edge thanks to superior overall pitching depth and the ace advantage with Volantis on the mound.
Georgia’s offense is scary, but the Longhorns are built to win lower-scoring games in Omaha.
Pick: Texas ML -130 or Better
Bracket 2 Betting Analysis
Bracket 2 is stacked with SEC firepower and features the two strongest teams in the entire 2026 College World Series field: Georgia and Texas. This side of the bracket is loaded.
Oklahoma brings momentum and a strong lefty in Cord Rager, while Alabama has experience and power.
But the real story is the Saturday night showdown.
The winner of Texas vs. Georgia is very likely going to be the team that advances to the College World Series championship series.
Both clubs possess the rare combination of elite starting pitching, deep bullpens, top-25 home run power and the experience needed to survive a brutal four- to five-game bracket grind.
Oklahoma and Alabama are dangerous and capable of pulling an upset, but neither projects to beat the survivor of that heavyweight matchup twice in a short window.
I touted both Texas and Georgia as my top two teams to win the 2026 College World Series in my preseason article, and they have lived up to the billing.
While Georgia’s offense is terrifying, Texas holds a clear advantage in starting pitching depth and bullpen reliability.
Dylan Volantis gives the Longhorns a massive edge in the potential bracket-defining game, and their staff as a whole ranks higher nationally in ERA, strikeout rate and home-run suppression.
In Omaha, where arms usually win out over bats for multiple days, that depth becomes decisive.
College World Series Futures
Ole Miss is the best value side to win Bracket 1 thanks to its upgraded Big 3 on the mound and explosive power. But once the Rebels reach the final, they’ll run into a Texas team that's simply built better for a best-of-three championship series.
The Longhorns’ pitching staff, the best in Bracket 2 and among the best nationally, gives them a massive advantage over even Ole Miss’s upgraded arms.
Texas has superior starting depth, a stronger bullpen and the versatility to win both low-scoring pitcher’s duels and occasional slugfests.
While Ole Miss can certainly make it a series with its raw power, Texas has the complete profile to close it out.
This is a great angle since we don’t have specific bracket winner futures markets available as of writing. Bet this exact result before the lines move.
Futures Pick: Texas Over Ole Miss to Win 2026 College World Series (+1800 · bet365)
