NCAA Baseball Betting Odds, Picks, Predictions & Best Bets: Our Top Picks, Including UCLA vs. UC Santa Barbara (April 19)
Bob Levey/Getty Images. Pictured: UCLA standout Cody Schrier, right, celebrates with teammates.
It's a relatively small Tuesday slate on the NCAA baseball landscape. However, we might need a bit of break after the shakeup from the last weekend.
Four Top 25 teams were swept as the contenders began to separate themselves from the pretenders.
The latest midweek matchups have been tremendous this season, as many top teams have been caught napping and dropping games. I've found a team that's prime to fall and a total that is a bit off considering the teams involved.
Let's take a look at our picks and see where we can find some betting value.
Kentucky vs. Louisville (5 p.m. ET)
The "Battle of the Bluegrass" is bound to be waged with bats and fireworks, as these two offenses are primed to light up the scoreboard. The Cardinals have been one of the nation's most potent offenses, as they average over 9.5 runs per game. In addition, they've reloaded nicely after losing No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis in last year's draft.
Louisville is slashing .316/.427/.541 as a team and sits 12th in the country with 59 home runs. Those staggering numbers will be up against a very shaky Kentucky staff that has a 5.22 ERA upon entering this matchup.
However, the Wildcats are the perfect dance partner for the Cardinals, as they have been in plenty of shootouts. Their numbers are not too shabby as they're slashing .294/.390/.459 as a club.
Pitching has also been shakey for Louisville, as they are only a few ticks better than Kentucky, with a staff ERA of 5.21 this season.
Massey Ratings has this total at 15.5, and with the hire power offenses in this one, they might even blow past that number.
Pick: Total Over Runs 14.5
UCLA vs. UC Santa Barbara (8:30 p.m. ET)
The Bruins had the wind taken out of their sails as they got swept by Stanford. Now, they are on the road with a bounce-back in mind. However, their opponent cannot be overlooked.
The Guanchos have dominated the Big West Conference and will have a quality arm in JD Callahan to oppose Kelly Austin of UCLA. While these two could duel, it will only be for a bit as Callahan is more of a mid-week opener for UC Santa Barbara. Although, there should be little concern after he departs as the Guanchos have a staff ERA of 3.61.
However, the same cannot be said about UCLA's staff after Austin departs. This bullpen was overworked in the weekend series against Stanford as the blowouts knocked their weekend rotation out early.
UCLA is still ranked, but the perspective on their season has changed dramatically after this past weekend. There are serious questions as to whether this team can contend as they've been stumbling of late.
This is a spot where they may not have the arms to withstand the Gauchos' offense, and if they can get out ahead early, the Bruin's offense doesn't have the power to battle back.
Pick: UC Santa Barbara ML (+105)
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