2024 College World Series Odds & Picks: Saturday (6/15)
Let’s build that bankroll for the remainder of the 2024 College World Series with our best baseball bets for Saturday, June 15. Here are our top 2024 College World Series picks and predictions for North Carolina State vs. Kentucky and Florida vs. Texas A&M.
Here are our top 2024 College World Series picks for Saturday’s slate of baseball games.
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2024 College World Series Picks: Saturday
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
North Carolina State (+114) vs. Kentucky (-145)
- Total: 9.5 Over -115 / Under -115
- Pitching Matchup
- N.C. State: SP – SAM HIGHFILL (6-2) | 80.0 IP | 5.06 ERA
- Kentucky: SP – TREY POOSER (6-1) | 83.1 IP | 3.46 ERA
Bracket 2 opens with a matchup between the Wolfpack and Wildcats. Kentucky is known for its basketball program, but its baseball team is making a name for itself in 2024. They ended the season with a 39-12 record and earned their first trip to Omaha.
On the flip side, the Wolfpack are back in the College World Series for the second time in three years. N.C. State was one win away from reaching the Championship series before COVID-19 crashed the party and sent the team packing due to players falling in and issues with contact tracing.
At first glance, I like the Wolfpack to get an upset win against the Wildcats. Right off the bat, experience comes to mind. As mentioned above, this is Kentucky’s first trip to Omaha, while Elliott Avent and the Wolfpack are making their second appearance in three years.
Kentucky does have the pitching advantage, with Pooser getting the start for the Wildcats. Trey Poser is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in the postseason thus far, coming off a phenomenal start against Oregon State, pitching seven scoreless innings while striking out eight.
But don’t count out Sam Highfill. He has been here before and has a sour taste in his mouth because of the way his last trip to the CWS ended.
He has also had a great start to the postseason, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA. In his last start against the Georgia Bulldogs, he pitched six innings, giving up only one run on four hits. Shutting down one of the best offenses in college baseball is no easy feat, especially with Charlie Condon on the opposite side.
The offense of N.C. State should be the difference in this matchup. The Wildcats are hitting .265 with a wRC+ 105 over the last 15 games, the lowest of the remaining eight teams. In fact, Kentucky ranks last in all major offensive categories (Average, wOBA, HRs, and wRC+) among the teams headed to the CWS.
Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack ranks much better, led by Alec Makarewicz and Garrett Pennington. N.C. State has the second-highest average and wOBA over the last 15 games. If their bullpen can continue their impressive run, then they have a great shot at pulling off an upset against Kentucky, especially in this pitcher’s park.
Pick: N.C. State Moneyline (+114)
Florida (+124) vs. Texas A&M (-160)
- Total: 11 Over -115 / Under -115
- Pitching Matchup
- Florida: SP – LIAM PETERSON (3-4) | 60.1 IP | 5.97 ERA
- Texas A&M: SP – JUSTIN LAMKIN (2-2) | 55.0 IP | 5.73 ERA
This matchup has the makings of a classic, with two of the most prolific offenses in College baseball going head-to-head. However, A&M’s offense may be hindered just a bit by Braden Montgomery’s season-ending injury in the super regionals.
Braden Montgomery is a projected top-5 pick in this year’s MLB Draft and is arguably the best player in this lineup. Montgomery led the team in RBI (85) and was second in HRs (27), trailing teammate Jace Laviolette (28).
Despite losing a key piece of their team, the Aggies’ lineup is deep and can still score a lot of runs, which we saw against Oregon, as they scored 15 to punch their ticket to Omaha.
Despite almost missing out on the postseason, the Florida Gators got hot at the right time. They won their region after two straight against Oklahoma State and then swept the Clemson Tigers on their way to their second consecutive CWS appearance.
This game will come down to pitching, which isn’t a surprise. That’s where the Florida Gators have a significant disadvantage. Not only is that their kryptonite, but they lack depth if they get in trouble early.
After a rough March, Freshman Liam Peterson gets the ball in today’s matchup. Will the Freshman fold under the bright lights of Omaha, or will he continue his impressive late-season run, in which he has not allowed more than three earned runs since April 6?
At the time of this write-up, Texas A&M is going with Justin Lamkin and saving their ace, Ryan Prager, for later games. That may be good news for the Gators, as Lamkin is 2-2 with a 5.73 ERA. The sophomore has only one appearance this postseason, pitching just a third of an inning and giving up a two-run double in the Regionals. It’s unknown how long he’ll go, but I’m sure Jac Caglianone and the rest of the Gators will get to him early and often.
The Gators and Aggies rank #2 and #3 in HRs and top 5 in wRC+ among the eight teams left. With two of the weaker starters on the mound, the offenses will take center stage and put up enough runs to go up and over this total.
Pick: Over 11 Total Runs (-115)