We got bit by the hook yesterday as both Duke and San Diego failed to cover their spreads due to late homers. However, that's history now, as Day 3 of NCAA Regionals is set to be epic.
Tickets to Super Regionals can be punched tonight, but many teams will have to win two games today if they want to keep their season alive.
With the stage set, let's dive into my three college baseball best bets for Sunday, June 2.
NCAA Baseball Best Bets: Sunday, June 2
Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
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12 p.m. | ||
12 p.m. | ||
3 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. |
UNC Wilmington vs. Georgia Tech
The ball is set to fly this afternoon in Athens. Two of the top slugging teams in the country will square off with their respective seasons on the line.
The UNCW Seahawks came into this region overlooked, but they have already proven that they can swing it with the best of them. They have a wRC+ of 164 over their last ten games, as they have hit 21 homers in that span.
They get to face a worn-down Georgia Tech pitching staff, which is not great to begin with. Carson Ballard will get the ball to start for the Yellow Jackets, and he has had an 11.25 ERA over his last three appearances.
He'll be backed up by a staff that has a 6.62 ERA as a team. However, they are expected to have run support.
The Yellow Jackets are a team that lives and dies by the long ball, as they slugged 92 this year. They get to face UNCW's Zane Taylor, who is due for some regression after posting a 3.76 ERA this season.
We should expect these clubs to trade haymakers until one of them falls. Take the over.
Pick: Over 12.5 (-125)
Indiana State vs. Illinois
The Indiana State Sycamores came into Regionals as a vastly overrated club due to RPI's flaws. However, I'm backing them against another fraudulent team in Illinois.
This game is rare this late in regionals, as both clubs will turn to quality starters. MVC Pitcher of the Year Brennyn Cutts will get the ball for the Sycamores.
Cutts has a 4.04 ERA in 17 starts this season, and while he's due to regress against better competition, the Fighting Illini are not superior competition.
Illinois had a team wRC+ of 105 this season and are hitting .252 over their last ten games.
As for Indiana State, they are a powerful club boasting a 127 wRC+ this year while slugging 104 homers and hitting .308 over their last ten games. Put that lineup against Cooper Omans, who was very solid this season, boasting a 3.74 ERA.
However, Omans is due for significant regression as his xFIP of 6.09 and SIERA of 4.08 are more telling.
Back the Sycamores to stay alive as they have the edge on both sides this afternoon.
Pick: Indiana State ML (-130)
Louisiana vs. Texas
I'm going right back to the well here as I was only in Louisiana on Friday. The Ragin' Cajun started that game off well as they had a lead, but then pulled Fluno early in the fifth, and the bullpen imploded after that.
I'm counting on Louisiana learning their lesson this time around as they give Chase Morgan the ball. Morgan has been excellent this season, with a 3.30 ERA in 19 appearances and a 1.03 WHIP.
Keeping the ball in the yard against this Texas lineup is the key, and Morgan has excelled at that as he holds a 0.56 flyout to groundout ratio.
On the other hand, the Rajin Cajun should knock Ace Whitehead around a lot. He's been regressing in his last few outings and is still due for more. Whitehead has a 7.45 ERA over his last three starts.
The bigger picture shows it, too, as his season-long ERA is nearly dwarfed by his xFIP of 6.36.
Take Louisiana to avenge their loss.