LSU vs Wake Forest Odds
| LSU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
| +120 | 9.5 -115 / -115 | +1.5 -150 |
| Wake Forest Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-150 | 9.5 -115 / -115 | -1.5 +120 |
LSU Tigers
LSU earned an opening-game victory over Tennessee as Paul Skenes shut down the Vols' lineup. However, the Tigers also gave him solid run support, and this top-three offense will need to stay hot tonight.
That will be much easier said than done against Wake Forest's Josh Hartle. Hartle took a massive step forward this season and became one of the more dominant pitchers in the country.
He enters this start with a 2.28 ERA and has racked up 131 strikeouts over 86 innings pitched. While the lefty has struggled over his last three starts, his 1.89 SIERA points to him bouncing back.
It's important to note that Hartle is a dominant left-hander, and LSU has struggled against left-handed pitching this season. There isn't much data to show their issues, but in their last three games against left-handed starters, the Tigers failed to score more than four runs — half of what they average on a per-game basis.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
The Demon Deacons came into Omaha with a ton of hype, and with that hype comes pressure.
Their potent lineup was shut down for the better half of the game against Stanford, and while credit must be given to Joey Dixon, we should expect them to be looser in this one.
Dixon's success against the Deacs came by keeping them off balance with his off-speed stuff. However, LSU's Ty Floyd has a very different repertoire.
Floyd is going to attack this Wake lineup with his mid- to upper-90s fastball and mix in his curveball. Floyd's command of his breaking ball has been shaky at times, though, and that will put him in a bad spot against this Wake lineup.
The Demon Deacons should be able to hunt his fastball, and they could turn those pitches around with authority. Over 57% of Floyd's outs have come via the fly ball, and if Wake makes loud contact, we could see those fly balls carry over the wall.
LSU vs Wake Forest Betting Pick
This is an epic matchup. The only two teams that have been ranked No.1 this season will finally face off.
However, one side has a clear path to prove it is the top team in the nation.
LSU's struggles against lefties are valid, and it's facing one of the most dominant left-handers in the country who's primed for a good outing.
On the other side, this Wake lineup will have a much more relaxed and simple approach at the plate tonight. We should see them hunt and turn around fastballs frequently.
Back the Demon Deacons to move on to the semifinals.
Pick: Wake Forest -150 (Play to -200)
