The Florida Gators looked like longshots to repeat as NCAA baseball champions when they lost their College World Series opener, but they are still alive as only four teams remain. It is still an uphill battle as Florida must win two consecutive games in order to make the national championship series, but it is certainly possible.
The Arkansas Razorbacks are playing some really good baseball and will aim to end Florida’s season on Friday. If the Gators win the teams would play a winner-take-all matchup on Saturday. These two teams are conference foes who are familiar with each other and it’s not a huge surprise that they are among the finals programs remaining in the College World Series.
Florida could be the favorite in both games should they each happen, but Arkansas is more likely to make it to the national championship series since it has yet to register a loss in College World Series odds.
The College World Series contest will be held at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. The game will take place on Friday, June 22nd, 2018, at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
We'll have NCAA baseball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NCAA baseball tournament.
Odds Analysis
The odds for this matchup have yet to be released, but Florida is the No. 1 overall seed and the defending national champion so it figures to be the favorite. However, Arkansas is a worthy foe and it hasn’t lost in this portion of the tournament, so the spread shouldn’t be too high.
Check back soon as it will be intriguing to see where the moneyline and run totals check on for this matchup in NCAA baseball betting.
Last Time Out
Florida held off elimination again last time out with a 9-6 victory over Texas Tech. The Gators had an 8-3 lead and seemed to be cruising to the win but Texas Tech scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to make things interesting. Florida got a run back in the top of the ninth and sent Texas Tech home by holding on.
J.J. Schwarz had only one hit in five at-bats but it was a huge one as he popped a two-run bomb. Blake Reese went 3-for-4 and reached base four times for Florida. The Gators’ offense struggled in its first game against the Red Raiders to open up the World Series but bounced back in this do-or-die affair.
Arkansas opened up the College World Series by knocking off the Texas Longhorns, 11-5, and then beat Texas Tech, 7-4, last time out. The Razorbacks’ offense is riding high and it may need to have a similar performance against Florida.
The Razorbacks got a huge game from Dominic Fletcher last time out, as he went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs to help lift Arkansas to the victory. The team won’t be intimidated by Florida because the two sides know each other well.
Season Series
The teams faced off three times in the regular season. Arkansas captured the first contest between the teams by a score of 6-3, but the Gators came roaring back the next day with a 17-2 blowout victory to even up the series. In the rubber match the game was nip-and-tuck but Florida pulled out a 5-4 victory to grab the series.
These contests were played in late March so plenty has changed since then, but the talent is still evident on both sides. Florida got the better of Arkansas in the regular season but will have to capture two straight to advance to the national championship series.
Free College World Series ATS Picks
The Gators will likely come into this matchup as the favorite, but Arkansas is nearly as good. Choose the well-rested Razorbacks to come out hot and then hold on for the win and a berth in the national championship series in College World Series betting.
College World Series ATS Pick: Arkansas Razorbacks 8, Florida Gators 4
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