The field of eight teams is set, and the College World Series odds have been released! The tournament will run from June 16-27, so there will be plenty of fluctuation in the betting markets over the next few weeks.
Which teams have a legitimate chance to claim the trophy? Who is taking the most betting action? Is there a worthy sleeper pick in the field?
Props.com looks to answer these questions with a deep dive into the College World Series odds and action prior to the tournament.
College World Series Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Texas | +400 |
| Stanford | +400 |
| Notre Dame | +500 |
| Texas A&M | +600 |
| Arkansas | +650 |
| Auburn | +650 |
| Ole Miss | +800 |
| Oklahoma | +800 |
Odds via BetMGM updated 11 a.m. ET on June 14.
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Texas, Stanford Emerge As Co-Favorites
We wrote an article on College World Series odds nearly a month ago. Tennessee was the overwhelming favorite (+400) at that time. The Volunteers were shockingly bounced from CWS contention last weekend, as Notre Dame beat them in the Super Regionals. Loads of Tennessee bandwagoners ripped up their betting tickets as a result.
To be fair, Tennessee wasn’t the only top team to come up short. Of the six teams with the best odds to win the College World Series in mid-May, only one (Arkansas) qualified for the tournament. That’s how volatile college baseball can be.
Who are the favorites looking to fend off that volatility? Texas and Stanford stand atop the board, as both schools hold +400 odds to lift the trophy. Texas lets its bats do the heavy lifting, as the Longhorns rank fourth nationally in slugging percentage (.556). Stanford has a more balanced approach while ranking 10th in slugging (.531) and 10th in team ERA (.531). For reference, Texas ranks 17th with a 4.05 team ERA.
Bettors Flock To Arkansas
Prior to the NCAA tournament, things looked gloomy for Arkansas baseball. The Razorbacks dropped their final regular-season series at Alabama. Then, they were promptly bounced from the SEC Tournament. Their College World Series hopes and dreams were slipping. However, Arkansas rallied in NCAA Tournament play, cruising past a pair of top teams (Oklahoma State and North Carolina) to punch its ticket to Omaha.
On top of that, our friends at College Baseball Nation ranked the eight remaining teams, and…well, look for yourself:
🚨 RANKINGS RELEASE 🚨
We're re-seeding the eight teams in Omaha, and boy, it's tough. These teams are here for a reason, but only one will win it all.
Where'd your team end up? pic.twitter.com/v1slX0iAdY
— College Baseball Nation (@CollegeBallNat) June 14, 2022
See any value here? Arkansas is No. 1 in these experts’ power rankings but ranked sixth on the BetMGM odds board. Food for thought.
It seems like this battle-tested Arkansas team is finally living up to its true potential. As a result, BetMGM says Arkansas is seeing the second-most betting tickets and money on the College World Series odds board. Only Texas has seen more betting action, which isn’t surprising given the Longhorns’ co-favorite status.
Sportsbooks Rooting Against Texas A&M
Even though Arkansas and Texas have seen the most betting action leading up to the College World Series, Texas A&M checks in as BetMGM’s largest liability. The Aggies are seeing 17.7% of the handle while currently holding +600 odds. They opened the season at 150-1 to lift the trophy, so Texas A&M is a true surprise in the College World Series field.
Auburn and Oklahoma represent another pair of longshot teams to make the tournament. Prior to the season, Auburn was 125-1 and Oklahoma had opening odds of 100-1 to win the College World Series. After qualifying, those teams stand at +650 and +800 respectively. Bettors aren’t interested in laying their hard-earned dollars to support these schools, as both of them rank in the bottom for betting tickets and handle prior to the College World Series.
