The first Tuesday slate of the college baseball season certainly produced some midweek madness, but as teams begin to find their groove, we should see the more talented side prevail this week.
I have two college baseball best bets for Tuesday's slate, including picks for Arizona State vs. UCLA and a moneyline parlay featuring Auburn and USC.
Let's dive into our college baseball picks and NCAA baseball best bets for Tuesday, Feb. 25.
College Baseball Picks for Tuesday, Feb. 25
| Picks | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Find more college baseball content on our NCAA Baseball page throughout the season. | ||
Auburn + USC ML Parlay (+113)
Auburn (-238) vs. Samford · USC (-200) vs. Cal State Fullerton
I said that power conference teams getting on track would be the theme this Tuesday, and one team that's sure to do so is the Auburn Tigers.
The Tigers have come out of the gates swinging, ranking 17th in batting average and 30th in wRC+.
This lineup will be up against a Samford Bulldogs staff that ranks 178th in team ERA. A big reason that number is so high is because of starter Brooks Rice. Rice allowed five runs on five hits and lasted just two innings in his first start this season.
He doesn't have the track record to show he'll bounce back in this outing, either. Last year, he posted a 6.33 ERA over 11 appearances, 10 of which were starts.
The Tigers' situation isn't too concerning, as the Bulldogs are 167th in wRC+ and 190th in batting average. The Auburn staff has been very solid to this point, and that should continue tonight.
First Leg: Auburn ML -238 (DraftKings)
While starting pitchers haven't been announced as of writing, fading the Cal State Fullerton Titans pitching staff is a strong way to anchor a parlay. Cal State Fullerton is 1-6 on the season, and its team ERA of 8.25 is a big reason why.
The Titans have been unable to avoid traffic with a rank of 244th in WHIP, and a quality lineup like USC is going to cash in often. The Trojans rank 47th in wRC+, and this is the worst pitching staff they'll have faced to this point.
On the flip side, the gap is just as wide. The Titans rank 181st in team batting average and 218th in team OBP. They've flashed some pop but are inconsistent, which will be trouble against a USC staff that's 39th in team ERA.
Back the Trojans to bring this one home.
Second Leg: USC ML -200 (DraftKings)
Pick: Auburn + USC ML Parlay (+113 via DraftKings)
UCLA -108 vs. Arizona State
8 p.m. ET · B1G+
The Arizona State Sun Devils have slugged their way to a 6-1 start, which includes a sweep of Ohio State and a series win over Oral Roberts. Now, they're set to begin a two-game series against the UCLA Bruins.
The Bruins enter with a similar record but have been a bit more tested. UCLA went 2-1 in the Kleberg Bank College Classic with wins over Washington State and new conference foe Michigan State.
It'll also have the edge on the mound in this midweek opener.
Freshman Wylan Moss will get the ball, and he has looked impressive in his first two collegiate appearances. In 5 2/3 innings pitched, he has a 0.71 WHIP and a BAA of .100 while striking out half of the batters he's faced.
He should find a way to contain an ASU lineup that has benefitted from starting the season at its hitter-friendly home park. While the Sun Devils have had some big run totals, they rank just 90th in wRC+ and 115th in batting average.
On the other side, the Bruins have brought the lumber. They rank 24th in wRC+ and have been excellent at getting on base, ranking 16th in OBP.
This lineup gets the opportunity to face freshman Easton Barrett, who has recorded just one out to this point in this season.
His inexperience will be backed up by an Arizona State staff that ranks 162nd in team ERA.
Don't let the counting stats fool you — UCLA is the better squad, and it will take this one tonight.
Pick: UCLA -108 (BetRivers · Play to -125)
