After an exciting slate on Friday, Saturday's slate promises to be just as exciting. I've found value in USC vs. Nebraska, Charlotte vs. UTSA, and Nebraska vs. UCF.
Let's dive into my three NCAA baseball predictions and college baseball best bets for Saturday, April 18.
College Baseball Predictions, Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that Action Network's Doug Ziefel is targeting from today's slate of 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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 3 p.m | |
  | 3 p.m | |
  | 6 p.m | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
USC vs. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers showed last night that they can compete with the Trojans as they pulled off the upset win in Game 1 of the series. Now they have an opportunity to take the series.
Nebraska is the better offensive team, outranking the Trojans in batting average, OPS, and wRC+.
Coming into this series, USC's pitching staff was daunting, but the bats were the story of Game 1, and the Cornhuskers' starter, Carson Jasa, has the stuff to compete with Grant Govel.
Govel has been excellent, sporting an undefeated record and a 2.13 ERA, but Jasa's 2.78 SIERA has him in the same tier, and his strikeout rate is seven percent higher.
Back the Cornhuskers to pull off another upset.
Pick: Nebraska ML +120
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Charlotte vs. UTSA
On paper, these two programs have been great offensively. Posting well above average numbers in wRC+ and OPS.
However, the pitching in this matchup is being undervalued. UTSA's starter, Conor Myles, has been excellent considering how much he's been tested as the Roadrunners are fourth in strength of schedule.
Then, on the other side of this matchup, Charlotte starter Joseph Taylor is due for significant positive regression. His 4.03 SIERA indicates much more success than his 6.39 ERA.
Plus, Taylor is backed up by a great bullpen. The 49ers staff as a whole has a 3.90 SIERA.
After 16 runs last night, expect a much different box score this afternoon.
Pick: Under 12 -115
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Cincinnati vs. UCF
We are rounding out our card with a Big 12 showdown as the UCF Knights look to secure another interconference series win.
Last night, the Knights' ace Mateo Gray was the story, striking out nine over seven and two-thirds innings of work. Tonight, UCF's starter is unannounced at the time of writing, but their staff has been tremendous.
They hold a team SIERA of 3.95 and a WHIP of 1.27. So, while they may not have a strong starting option, their options out of the bullpen are well-rested.
As for the Cincinnati Bearcats, senior Logan Knight is set to get the ball. The right-hander holds a 5.82 ERA and a 3.52 SIERA through 40 innings of work this season.
While Knight does have a solid matchup against a UCF lineup that has little pop and a wRC+ of 95, the Bearcats' lack of experience has shown up big in Big 12 play, and if Knight cannot work deeper into this game, the Bearcats bullpen is bound to blow up.
Lay the juice with the Knights as the Bearcats can't be trusted in this spot.
Pick: UCF ML -145
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