Ronald Martinez/Getty Images. Pictured: The Texas Longhorns.
Texas vs. Mississippi State Odds
| Texas Odds | -162 |
| Mississippi State Odds | +130 |
| Over/Under | 8.5 (-122 / +100) |
| Time | Sunday, 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN2 |
| Odds as of Friday afternoon and via DraftKings. | |
Projected Starting Pitchers
Ty Madden (Texas) vs. Will Bednar (Mississippi State)
Welcome to the main event of the first round of the College World Series.
Mississippi State leads the nation in strikeouts per nine innings with a loaded starting staff and the best closer in Omaha. Landon Sims has faced 139 batters this season and stuck out 85 of them.
Landon Sims, Back to Back Unfair Sliders. 😳#Simsbrel pic.twitter.com/jIT2rD4OTY
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 15, 2021
Freshman Will Bednar is expected to get the start after giving up four earned runs and lasting just three innings in the opener against Notre Dame.
This is a deep staff that can pivot to Preston Johnson or Chase Patrick for long relief to get to Sims. The question remains whether or not Texas will have enough offensive firepower to handle the Bulldog staff.
The Longhorns struggled in the opener of the supers against South Florida pitching, specifically Bulls starter Jack Jasiak, who averaged less than a strikeout per inning.
Texas must have sophomore Ty Madden own the pitching mound with his 2.41 ERA and ability to go over 100 pitches.
The Action Network projection to determine a college baseball number integrates staff FIP, starter splits, fielding percentage and home runs per nine.
The true line in this game is -110 both ways, showing value on Mississippi State in the current market.
This game was played in Arlington back on February 20, and Madden took the loss. The Bulldogs not only have the advantage in the market number, but they also boast the experience of seeing Madden’s arsenal in recent play.
Pick:Â Mississippi State +120 or better
