After a hiatus in writing this column (I’ve still been betting on college baseball, just posting picks elsewhere), we’re back for an exciting slate of college baseball action. Let’s dive into today’s college baseball odds to make our picks and predictions for today, Friday, April 12. Hungry for more? You’ll find more college baseball picks on Twitter or 2024 college baseball season preview.
College Baseball Odds, Pick & Prediction Today: Friday, April 12
College Baseball Odds, Pick & Prediction Today: Friday, April 12
LSU Tigers at Tennessee Volunteers
LSU: +130 | TENN: -160
Game Time: 7:30 pm. ET
Where: Knoxville, Tenn.
Odds via Caesars
In a series that most likely thought would be a lot more meaningful at the start of the season, the 27-6 Tennessee Volunteers will host the 22-12 LSU Tigers. Both teams are shuffling things around with their starting rotations, as Tennessee’s starter is TBA while LSU will start LHP Gage Jump, whose 4.55 RA9 and 1.137 WHIP are both respectable.
Tennessee has announced its Saturday (Drew Beam) and Sunday (Zander Sechrist) starters, so it’s unclear who the team will roll with on Friday. The Vols started RHP AJ Causey in a loss to Auburn last Friday. But regardless of who head coach Tony Vitello chooses to put on the mound today, Tennessee will have a big leg up at the plate — and they should have one in the bullpen.
This season, the Vols have an absurd 1.115 OPS as a team, which far outpaces LSU’s .902. OF Kavares Tears (1.313 OPS) and INF Blake Burke (1.311) lead the way among players with 32-plus appearances. Both Tears and Burke are LHHs, which reduces the advantage LSU will get from starting a southpaw.
Tennesse also ranks 14th in the RPI and is 17-6 against teams ranked inside the top 100, which, again, far outpaces 45th-ranked LSU and their 8-10 record against top-100 teams (and 1-5 record against top-25 teams). I’m fading the Tigers by backing the Vols for the very reasonable price of -160 at Caesars, but we’re doing so in a two-leg parlay. Keep reading for the next pick.
College Baseball Pick Today: Tennessee ML -160 at Caesars
Stanford Cardinal at Oregon State Beavers
STAN: +340 | OSU: -450
Game Time: 9 pm. ET
Where: Corvallis, Ore.
Odds via Caesars
Few teams have fallen off further than the 13-17 Stanford Cardinal this season. The team lost its ace pitcher and best batter, so it makes sense, but the books are still giving the Cardinal more credit than they deserve. Stanford just got run-ruled by Arizona in a mid-week game on Monday, and they now run into the unenviable position of playing Oregon State in Corvallis.
The 27-4 Oregon State Beavers rank 11th in the RPI. They owe a lot of credit to superstar INF Travis Bazzana, whose .466 batting average and 1.668 OPS are absolutely absurd. Bazzana’s efforts have helped propel the Beavers to a 1.061 OPS as a team, which is miles ahead of Stanford’s .793.
Oregon State leads in the two team pitching metrics that I consider as well — their 4.60 RA9 and 1.433 WHIP also far outpace Stanford’s 6.37 and 1.655. The Cardinal have no advantage in this matchup, which is why they clock in at odds of +340 to win this game outright.
The RPI suggests that the disparity between Oregon State and Stanford may be bigger than the odds imply. Again, Oregon State ranks 11th, and they’re an unblemished 13-0 against teams outside the top 100. Stanford ranks a lowly 154th and is yet to play a top-25 team, but they’re 3-10 against teams inside the top 100. We’re not getting a ton of value on the Beavers’ moneyline, but we’re getting enough to bring this parlay to just about even odds.
College Baseball Pick Today: Oregon State ML -450 at Caesars
Final College Baseball Parlay: Tennessee ML/Oregon State ML -101 at Caesars
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