Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images. Pictured: The Vanderbilt Commodores.
Vanderbilt vs. Arizona Odds
| Vanderbilt Odds | -165 |
| Arizona Odds | +135 |
| Over/Under | 10.5 (-107 / -114) |
| Time | Saturday, 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
| Odds as of Friday afternoon and via DraftKings. | |
Projected Starting Pitchers
Kumar Rocker (Vanderbilt) vs. Chase Silseth (Arizona)
Beating Kumar Rocker is not impossible, as both Arkansas and Alabama put up at least five earned runs against the Vanderbilt ace in recent action.
The key to making Rocker work is to get his off-speed pitch arsenal located in the strike zone. Enter an Arizona lineup that ranks seventh in walks and leads the nation in hits, runs and triples.
.@kobebe10 smokes one into the gap to score ✌️ Season-high 🔟 extra-base hits for the Cats! #BearDown
📺 ESPN2
💻 https://t.co/Xqd8vX3MkX pic.twitter.com/M7K81XxTND— Arizona Baseball 🏆 (@ArizonaBaseball) June 14, 2021
That video clip above is extremely important in helping to understand what Arizona baseball is: A doubles machine that can thrive in a park like TD Ameritrade. With winds and precipitation possibly hitting the Omaha by Saturday evening, the advantage will be with a Wildcats team that sprays the ball after practicing patience at the plate.
Vanderbilt has a top-of-the-line bullpen, and Jack Leiter would arguably be the better-suited starter for Game 1.
If the current starting pitchers hold between Rocker and Chase Silseth, count me in for fading the Commodores steam up until first pitch.
Pick: Arizona +130 or better
