Peter Aiken/Getty Images. Pictured: The 2019 Vanderbilt Commodores at the College World Series held at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
In-state SEC rivals, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, are shaping up to be the biggest liabilities at sportsbooks in the 2021 College World Series.
Vanderbilt (+175) is the betting favorite following Arkansas’ early exit — half the price of Tennessee and Texas coming in at +350. Only eight college baseball teams remain, with Vanderbilt on one side of the bracket opposite of Tennessee and Texas.
_BookPromo=1186
The Commodores, led by pitching duo and future MLB draft picks Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, opened at +800 prior to the drop to +175. According to BetMGM, Vanderbilt is the sportsbook’s second-biggest liability.
On paper, Vanderbilt has the easier path to reach the best-two-out-of-three final series. First is a matchup against Arizona on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Wildcats opened at +2500 to win the College World Series, but those odds have since dropped down to +650. Should the Vandy Boys advance, they’ll meet the winner of Stanford (+900) and tournament Cinderella, N.C. State (+1200).
The Wolfpack shocked the college baseball world with a series win over Arkansas, the consensus top team all season. After a 21-2 win in Game 1, it appeared the Razorbacks would roll. But, N.C. State bounced back with a 6-5 win in Game 2. Jonny Butler’s 13th home run of the year gave the Wolfpack a 2-1 lead in Game 3 before freshman shortstop Jose Torres homered in the 9th to seal the 3-2 upset win.
On the other side of the bracket, Tennessee comes in as BetMGM’s biggest liability among the teams remaining. The Volunteers take on Virginia (opened +3000; now +1000) in the opening series on Sunday.
The winner advances to take on the winner of Texas (+350) vs. Mississippi State (+1800 to +650). The Bulldogs are the third-biggest liability as sportsbooks will be rooting for anyone but the SEC to win the national championship in Omaha.
_BookPromo=245