The Murray State Racers face the UCLA Bruins to kick off Day 2 of the 2025 Men's College World Series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.
UCLA enters as a -260 favorite on the moneyline with the over/under sitting at 11. The run line, meanwhile, sits at UCLA -2.5 (+105).
Let's dive into our Murray State vs. UCLA prediction and NCAA baseball picks for the College World Series on Saturday, June 14.
Murray State vs UCLA Prediction
- Murray State vs. UCLA Pick: Murray State +2.5 (-114 · FanDuel)
My UCLA vs. Murray State best bet is on the Racers to cover the run line, with the best line currently available at FanDuel.
Murray State vs UCLA Odds
| Murray State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+2.5 -125 | 11 -110o / -120u | +195 |
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-2.5 -105 | 11 -110o / -120u | -260 |
- Louisville vs Oregon State Moneyline: Murray State +195 · UCLA -260
- Louisville vs Oregon State Over/Under: 11 Runs
- Louisville vs Oregon State Run Line: UCLA -2.5 (-105) · Murray State +2.5 (-125)
Murray State vs UCLA Pick, Best Bets
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 (-114 · FanDuel)
