Texas & West Coast College Baseball Friday:
#2 Tennessee Volunteers face off with the #22 Arizona Wildcats tonight in what should be an explosive affair.
The white chalk is out, hot dogs are grillin’ at the concession stand and every team in the country has a fresh slate. A new college baseball season has begun! The Ole Miss Rebels are the defending champions and are ranked #6 in the 1st ever DDSN 24 Pack. We already have a preview of the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, TX for you here: College Baseball Showdown. Our breakdowns, previews and recaps will be information for the hardcore baseball fan, casual fan and those that want to begin wagering on college baseball. It’s our goal to give our fans as much information as possible, to make a little money and have fun while watching baseball. Let’s get after it!
(Betting lines via Draft Kings Sports Book - $100 = 1 unit).
College Baseball in the state of Texas:
Gonzaga Bulldogs (+120) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (-140); 2:00pm ct
Gonzaga will be traveling to God’s country in Lubbock, Texas to face the Red Raiders in a four game series. On Friday the Zags will start preseason 2nd team All-American RHP Owen Wild who posted a (9-1) record with a 3.03 ERA and 83 strikeouts last season. The Zags bring back 5 of its top 6 hitters from last season including WCC Freshman of the Year, Cade McGee. Gonzaga is reloaded on offense to pair with a potentially strong rotation. Texas Tech will have RHP Kyle Robinson on the bump. Robinson was mostly a reliever last season with zero starting experience allowing an opponents batting average of .319. TT does bring back Big 12 Freshman of the Year catcher Hudson White from Keller, Texas and senior Ty Coleman from Midland, Texas. Will that be enough offense for the Red Raiders? I like the Zags at a dog price with one of the strongest pitchers in the country.
Pick: I liked the Zags. Game started before this has been posted.
Cal-Berkeley Bears (-160) vs. Houston Cougars (+130); 6:30pm ct
The Golden Bears head to Houston and will have sophomore LHP Ian May on the mound. Last season May started 8 games posting a 5.06 ERA and a .286 opponent batting average. Cal returns 4 starters from last season including preseason Pac 12 All-Conference Team, C/DH Caleb Lomavita who earned 1st Team Pac 12 honors as a freshman. Cal has enough offense to compete this season but will they have the pitching? The Houston Cougars will be hosting a season opener against a power 5 opponent for the first time in nearly a decade. The ‘Cougs return 8 of 9 position players from last season highlighted by 2022 AAC All-Conference team senior INF Ian McMillan. They also will be led by a pair of juniors, catcher Anthony Tulimero and 3B Zach Arnold. I like this Houston offense to rough up Cal tonight at home.
Pick: Houston (+130); $100 bet to win $130
College Baseball on the West Coast:
#2 Tennessee Volunteers (-265) vs. #22 Arizona Wildcats (+210); total 10; 7:00pm ct
The Volunteers will have their revenge this season after being bounced from the regionals by Notre Dame. Top RHP prospect Chase Dollander will take the bump tonight for the Vols. Dollander is on every preseason awards list gearing up for a strong season and most likely heading into the MLB draft. This is why Tennessee is almost a three dollar favorite (Bet $300 to win $100). Arizona may not have the blue chip talent like Tennessee but they have some talent to compete in the Pac 12. On the mound tonight will be preseason 6’5” Pac 12 first teamer RHP TJ Nichols. He will have a couple preseason all conference players behind him in INF Nic McCaughry and OF Chase Davis. Davis is on the 2023 Golden Spikes watchlist after he hit .289, 18 HR and .997 OPS (On base % + slugging %). This price is too high to lay with the Vols. This is a great game to enjoy and use as a barometer for both schools. Enjoy.
Pick: Over 10 (-115) runs; $100 bet to win $86.96
San Diego State Aztecs (+130) vs. #19 Arizona State Sun Devils (-160); total 11.5; 7:00pm ct
The Aztecs will be starting OF/LHP TJ Fondtain tonight. Fondtain posted a (3-7) record, 3.86 ERA leaving opponents with a batting average of .237 last season. Catching tonight will be Poncho Ruiz from Tiajuana, Mexico. Ruiz brings a strong present at the plate offensively by batting .309 as a freshman last season. Although, the Aztec offense is led by ‘22 1st Team All-Mountain West CF Cole Carigg who batted for .388, 40 RBI & .935 OPS. Projected starter for the Sun Devils will their ace and top MLB prospect LHP Ross Dunn. The ace will backed up by a stacked Sun Devil offense featuring catcher Ryan Campos, INF Ethan Long and INF Jacob Tobias who are all on the Pac 12 preseason all conference team. This is too short of a price for an Ace like Dunn and the offense that the Sun Devils have. This should be at least -180/-200.
Pick: Arizona State (-160); $100 bet to win $62.50
Other highlighted games:
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