2024 CWS Picks: Predictions & Long Shots

It’s the SEC vs. the ACC at the CWS.

For the first time since the College World Series went to an eight-team format in 1950, only two conferences will be represented in Omaha to play for the national championship.

That’s right, starting Friday, four teams from the Southeastern Conference (Tennessee, Texas A&M, Kentucky and Florida) and four teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia and N.C. State) will descend upon Charles Schwab Field in the two-bracket, double-elimination tournament for the national championship.

Tennessee is the favorite (+250), while Florida has the longest odds to win the title (+1600).

Kentucky is making its first-ever CWS appearance, while Florida State is there for the 24th time in program history (which is third-most all-time in Division I baseball).

The 2024 CWS starts Friday, June 14, with UNC vs. Virginia kicking things off at 2 p.m. ET. Two games a day will commence through June 19, followed by the best-of-three championship series between the winners of each bracket, which starts June 22.

So buckle up, as FrontPageBets takes a look its favorite and long-shot pick to win the College World Series in Omaha.

(All odds courtesy of BetMGM and are subject to change)

Below are College World Series odds as of Tuesday from BetMGM: 

Tennessee is the nation’s top seed and heads into the College World Series as the favorite and at some other sportsbooks such as DraftKings, this number could be as high as +290, so shop around. 

This is UT’s seventh appearance in the CWS, with its best finish coming in 1951 when the Vols were national runner-up. This will be their third trip to Omaha in the last four years, finishing T7 in 2021, when they lost their first two games, and T5 last year, going 1-2.

This could be the year for Tennessee to get its first baseball title, especially if it turns into a high-scoring World Series, as the Vols roll into Omaha red-hot.

This Tennessee team (55-12) gets it done on offense, leading the nation in home runs (67) and seventh in scoring (9.2 runs per game).

The Vols’ average margin of victory in the regionals and super regionals was nearly six runs, outscoring opponents 64-29 in the postseason.

Oh, and their pitching is pretty good as well, sitting third in the nation in ERA (3.83).

Here’s the thing, however: It’s been 25 years since the last No. 1 overall seed won the College World Series (Miami in 1999). And only twice since then has the top seed made it to the championship series.

Tennessee begins its quest Friday at 7 p.m. against Florida State.

The Virginia Cavaliers (46-15) are also making their seventh appearance in the CWS in program history. The Cavs won it all in 2015.

UVA went a perfect 5-0 through regional and super regional play, including sweeping Kansas State last weekend to earn a bid to the College World Series.

The Cavaliers are second in the nation in batting average (.336) and fourth in runs scored (averaging 9.4 runs per game). They’re also fourth in slugging percentage (.575), and have won 15 of their last 17 games.

Head coach Brian O’Connor has been here before and knows how to win. So, keep an eye on the Cavs.

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