It wasn't a great time for us a week ago , as we put up a donut in the win column on the college-baseball diamond, but were only a few bad bounces away from breaking even. Nonetheless, Tuesday begins a new week and we can only go up from here.
The latest slate is exciting, as many teams are entrenched in conference play now, but this is when they all play closer non-conference opponents. These midweek, non-conference games have given us some "David vs. Goliath" type upsets and it shouldn't be a surprise anymore to see a top team go down.
So, let's put our best foot forward, get things started off the right way and dive into our three best bets on the slate.
Oregon vs. Gonzaga (6 p.m. ET)
Two of the hottest team on the West coast meet, as both squads enter this game off weekend sweeps. The Zags are the No. 19 team in the country, while Oregon just cracked the top 25 in the No. 21-ranked position.
Historically speaking, this matchup holds some significance for the upstart Bulldogs. Oregon has dominated them of late, with the Ducks winning 17 of the last 19 meetings since the 2010 season.
Gonzaga's ascension has been from tremendous production in every facet of the game. The Zags are hitting .269 as a team and hold a .347 on-base percentage. Although, what has really stood out is the starting rotation.
Led by Gabriel Hughes, last week's WCC pitcher of the week, the rotation has become one of the nation's best. The Zags have a combined 2.09 ERA and .178 opponent batting average.
Their opponents have been tearing the cover off the ball this season. The Ducks have a ludicrous slash line of .339/.427/.550 as a team. Through 19 games, they have put up 174 runs and hit 31 homers. However, they have yet to face a staff like the Gonzaga crew and Oregon's pitchers aren't at its level.
In the end, good pitching beats good hitting and Gonzaga scratches out a win.
Pick: Gonzaga (-120)
Oklahoma State vs. Oral Roberts (7 p.m. ET)
The Cowboys have been on a tear as they enter this matchup on a seven-game winning streak. Their run has been fueled by the offense. They're slashing .270/.383/.430 as a team.
However, one man has been especially hot, as Jake Thompson has become one of the better hitters in the country. He's batting .410 with a .505 on-base percentage, reaching base safely in 36 of Oklahoma State's last 37 games.
In the opposite dugout, Oral Roberts has shown its hitters can swing as well. The Golden Eagles are first in the Summit League in essentially every offensive category. They're also in line for a bounce-back game, as they enter this game after getting swept by Dallas Baptist.
The final component here is the pitching matchup. While the Cowboys have not announced a starter, everyone besides Justin Campbell hasn't been too sharp. Victor Mederos, Bryce Osmond and Mitchell Stone have combined for an 5.41 ERA this season.
Opposing either of them for the Golden Eagles is Andrew Roach. He isn't much better than the majority of the Cowboys staff, as his ERA sits at 4.85 through 13 innings so far.
Given the arms options and the solid bats on both sides, this game should go over the total in runs. Oklahoma State might even cover it themselves.
Pick: Total Over 11 Runs
South Alabama vs. Auburn (7 p.m. ET)
South Alabama has been on fire to say the least. The Jaguars have won 14 of their last 15 games and been fantastic on both sides of field. They're hitting .294 as a team, plus have a 2.64 staff ERA that's top 10 in the nation. However, South Alabama has yet to play a power conference team and that's what is about to change in this meeting.
The Tigers are a team set to prove themselves in the SEC, but have been tremendous during their non-conference schedule. They are slashing .312/.424/.483 and have put up 174 runs in 20 games.
While the Jaguars deserve some respect, this is too much of a jump in competition for them as Auburn is an underrated SEC team. Not to mention, the Tigers are 80-25 against non-conference opponents since 2018.
Pick: Auburn (-145)
