Tuesday will be an intense day at the College World Series.
We have two elimination games scheduled: Florida State vs. North Carolina in an ACC clash at 2 p.m. ET and Florida vs. Kentucky in an SEC showdown at 7 p.m. ET.
While the ACC has already said goodbye to Virginia and NC State at the CWS, the SEC has yet to have a team eliminated. That's going to change tonight.
I have plays on a side and total for both games, so be sure to check out my College World Series best bets and NCAA baseball picks for Tuesday, June 18 below.
College World Series Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that Action Network senior writer Collin Wilson is targeting from Tuesday's slate of NCAA baseball 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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 2 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Check out more College World Series content on our NCAA baseball page. | ||
Florida State vs. North Carolina
As the SEC continues to roll in the winners' bracket, an ACC team will be eliminated in Game 9 of the 2024 College World Series on Tuesday.
North Carolina opened Omaha with a walk-off victory over Virginia, only to see the lineup produce a single run in a Sunday loss to Tennessee.
That made it three consecutive games in which the Tar Heels have failed to score more than three runs. The last time they did so was an 8-6 Super Regional victory over West Virginia on June 7, which is something they want to replicate.
"I think a lot of that is the guy on the mound — you've got to give him credit and look at who you're facing," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "… We just haven't been able to have a big, big inning, but we're very capable of doing that. It can flip just like that. That's the thing about baseball."
Florida State, meanwhile, suffered a heartbreaking loss to Tennessee in its CWS opener, but the Seminoles extended their season when they eliminated Virginia on Sunday.
With two ACC teams set to do battle, there should be plenty of historical numbers to indicate a favorite in this game. However, North Carolina and Florida State haven't played each other in the past two seasons.
There's minimal history between these head coaches as well, but North Carolina’s Scott Forbes beat Link Jarrett when he was at Notre Dame in 2022.
Both teams are expected to send their third starters to the mound: Aidan Haugh for North Carolina and Conner Whittaker for Florida State.
The Tar Heels will have the advantage out of the bullpen. Closer Dalton Pence wasn't used in the loss to the Volunteers, making him fresher for Tuesday's elimination game. That's big news because the sophomore southpaw recently threw 58 pitches or more in Regional and Super Regional action.
Florida State vs UNC
Betting Picks & Prediction
Wind has been the story in Omaha thus far, as 30-mph gusts have knocked down several balls to keep runs off the board. The weather will not change for Tuesday afternoon, as sustained 25 mph winds blowing in from right-center field are expected.
A Whittaker and Haugh matchup gives North Carolina a projection of -115 with a total of 13.1.
Considering Pence will throw longer than his season average of 1.5 innings per appearance, North Carolina will have the advantage in a low-scoring game.
Pick: North Carolina -125 or Better · Under
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Florida vs. Kentucky
Four Southeastern Conference teams arrived in Omaha before the weekend. While the ACC will have just one team remaining, the SEC will send home its first member between Kentucky and Florida.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Bracket 2 elimination game, as the winner gets a heavily-injured Texas A&M squad for the chance to go to the championship series.
Florida last played a third game on the weekend during Regionals, electing to throw Pierce Coppola, who has made seven starts this season with a cumulative ERA of 9.16.
The 6-foot-8 sophomore may allow as many runs as innings pitched, but he tends to record a lot of strikeouts in his appearances.
Coppola pitched against Kentucky on May 10, going 2 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.
The biggest question for the Gators is the status of the bullpen, as shutdown closer Brandon Neely is up to 68 total pitches after tallying 45 in Monday's victory over NC State.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, will lick their wounds after a Monday night loss to Texas A&M. Now, Kentucky will look to win three consecutive games in as many days.
Dominic Niman has been a part of the rotation all season. He has started 16 games but hasn't lasted past the fourth inning since May 4.
Florida torched Niman on May 11, as he gave up six earned runs over four innings of work. The bullpen should be fresh, however, with closer Cameron O’Brien throwing just 28 pitches in Monday’s loss.
Kentucky vs Florida
Betting Picks & Prediction
Kentucky projects at -140 with Niman on the mound against Coppola.
Considering both pitchers were rang up for numerous earned runs against these opposing lineups in early May, there's a chance for runs to finally show up in Omaha.
The wind may finally be a factor for the over, as lighter 10 mph winds moving from right to left field are expected to shift and blow out to left field around 8 p.m. CT.
The projected total for this combination of starting pitchers, bullpen and BaseRuns comes in at 12.6.
Pick: Kentucky ML -140 · Over
