Betting the 2022 College World Series

The 2022 College World Series is almost upon us. The 64-team Division I baseball tournament is all set. There will be 16 four-team pods that will play a round-robin double-elimination tournament with the top team in each pod advancing to the Super Regionals. At the Super Regionals, teams play a best-of-three series with the winners advancing to the final eight to play for the College World Series title in Omaha. 

One team reigns supreme and is a huge favorite to take this year’s title. Mississippi State is the reigning champion, but they did not qualify for the tournament this season. Vanderbilt, which has played for the last two College World Series titles, is back but the Commodores are not among the top favorites. Oregon State, which won the CWS in 2018, is among those favorites. 

The Favorite

The overwhelming favorite to win this year’s CWS is Tennessee. The Vols are given +250 odds to win the school’s first-ever College World Series. They are the best team in the country and their stats prove it. Tennessee ranks No. 1 in the nation in home runs, ERA, WHIP, offensive efficiency, and the list goes on.

The Vols have incredible power led by Trey Lipscomb and OF Jordan Beck. Either could be the No. 1 pick in this year’s MLB Draft. Tennessee pitchers have a combined ERA of 2.35 and the Vols also has unhittable reliever Ben Joyce who clocked the fastest pitch ever in the history of baseball – 105.5 mph. 

The Contender

The only contender even close to Tennessee is the Beavers (+900 at online sportsbooks) who are the only other team given better than +1000 odds to win the CWS. Oregon State’s pitchers rank in the top-10 in ERA and left-hander Cooper Hjerpe has 140 strikeouts in 89 innings this season. In a tournament where pitching is a huge factor, Oregon State could surprise and win a second title in five years. 

Hokies and Horns in the Mix

Cade Hunter Va. Tech

Virginia Tech is listed at +1800 and for good reason. The Hokies lost one series the entire season. VT is a top three hitting team led by power hitter Cade Hunter who bats .328 and has 15 homers on the season. Pitcher Drue Hackenberg is the Hokies ace, but Tech may not be deep enough to make a run at this year’s CWS.

Texas (+2000) was the fourth seed in the Big 12 tournament and did not win it. However, the Longhorns were one of the best teams in college baseball at the beginning of the season. As a result, the Longhorns are the No. 9 seed in the CWS and will host a regional pod. If they can get hot like they were at the beginning of the season, Ivan Melendez and the rest of the Longhorns could pull off a major upset.

Longshot Bets

Last year, Arkansas was the No. 1 overall seed in the College World Series. N.C. State came along and eliminated the Razorbacks in the Super Regional. Now, Arkansas is back led by ace pitcher Connor Noland and a staff that ranks in the top-15 in strikeouts. The Razorbacks (+3000 at top ranked sportsbooks) have plenty of CWS experience and their pitching depth could take them far. 

When Notre Dame’s pitching is at its best, the Fighting Irish have what it takes to win a CWS. John Michael Bertrand leads the team in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He is 8-2 and if the Irish can be a little more consistent at the plate, they could make for a huge payout at +4000.