The 2025 College World Series kicks off Friday with a showdown between the Arizona Wildcats and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Let's break down the matchup and reveal our best bet!
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Friday's Best College Baseball World Series Picks
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Arizona Wildcats (+175) vs Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (-230) | O/U 9.0 (-115/-115)
Nearly 10 years later the Arizona Wildcats look to avenge their World Series loss to the Chanticleers in the 2016 College World Series finale.
Revenge won't come easy as the Chants are the hottest team in baseball, riding a 23-game winning streak and are the only team in the country with 50+ victories.
At first glance with a total being this low, I was immediately drawn tho the Wildcats run line +1.5 (+100). However, the Wildcats offense has had trouble scoring runs and has been way too inconsistent for me to comfortably back them in this matchup.
The Wildcats are starting Sophomore Owen Kramkowski, who is 9-6 with a 5.48 ERA. The right-hander has been hit hard over his last five starts, allowing 5+ runs in three of those five starts including eight against North Carolina in his last outing. Thw two starts he allowed 5 or fewer runs were to BYU and Cal Poly.
On the opposite side, the Chants are starting Redshirt Senior Riley Eikhoff. In 15 starts, Eikhoff went 6-2 with a 2.90 ERA.
In his last three starts, he is a perfect 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. He has been a staple in this pitching rotation and has helped Coastal cruise through the postseason.
Now, facing this Wildcats lineup will be a one of his biggest tests this year but the senior should have enough experience to carve them up like every other lineup he has faced this season.
The Chanticleers' offense can hit with the best of them, but in today's matchup they also have the starting pitching advantage, as well as a big advantage in the bullpen.
Pick: Coastal Carolina Moneyline (-230)
I know a lot of people are not used to laying this kind of juice but in the world of College Baseball this is something you have to do from time to time. If you don’t want to lay the juice, I'd be ok playing the run line (-1.5 at -130) too.
