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Men’s College World Series 2025 Preview: Top Contenders and Odds
As the 2025 Men’s College World Series nears, sportsbooks have identified Tennessee, defending champions Texas A&M, and LSU as early frontrunners. Among these, Tennessee has taken the top spot with odds of +800, reflecting a strong returning roster and consistent high-level performance. Texas A&M trails closely with +900 odds, and LSU is not far behind at +1000, underscoring the SEC’s ongoing dominance in college baseball.
Arkansas Razorbacks Enter as Favorites
Despite Tennessee’s overall odds, the Arkansas Razorbacks are currently the top betting favorite to win the national title, entering the CWS at +220. This gives them an implied win probability of 31.25%. LSU is not far behind, with odds of +240 and an implied probability of 29.41%. The Razorbacks, along with Louisville and Murray State, are seeking their first-ever national championship.
Opening Matchups and Bracket Breakdown
The tournament runs from June 13 to 22 (or 23, depending on the outcome) at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. Arkansas and LSU—two of the biggest favorites—are placed on the same side of the bracket and will clash in the first round on June 14. This setup guarantees one of the top contenders will be just one loss away from elimination after opening day.
Other first-round games include:
- Bracket 2: Murray State vs. UCLA
- Bracket 1: Oregon State vs. Louisville, Arizona vs. Coastal Carolina
Losers of the opening matchups will play in elimination games two days later, while winners advance for a chance at a semifinal spot.
Odds Breakdown for All Eight Teams
After Arkansas and LSU, there’s a significant gap in the odds:
- Coastal Carolina: +650
- Oregon State: +700
- Arizona and UCLA: +1000
- Louisville: +1300
- Murray State: (odds currently not posted)
This year’s College World Series field features no returning teams from last season. Notably, Murray State is making its first-ever appearance, while UCLA returns for the first time since 2013.
Other Strong Title Contenders
Beyond the favorites, several programs could make deep runs:
- Florida (+1200): Known for their potent combination of pitching and offense.
- Vanderbilt (+1400): A regular producer of MLB talent under coach Tim Corbin.
- Wake Forest (+1500): An ACC powerhouse with an analytics-driven development approach.
On the West Coast, Oregon State (+1800) and Stanford (+2000) bring postseason experience and tradition. Texas (+1800) also enters with a veteran coaching staff aiming to reclaim past glory.
Teams with established starting rotations and bullpen stability are seeing better odds. Tennessee’s top ranking is largely due to their projected pitching edge, as multiple key starters and relievers return. Similar factors have influenced the favorable odds for Texas A&M and Vanderbilt, which have long histories of developing elite pitchers.
Arkansas has held the favorite status since the tournament began on May 30, especially after defeating the previous national champion Tennessee in the Fayetteville Super Regional. Now with the eight-team field finalized, all eyes are on Omaha as programs with rich histories and rising ambitions battle for the 2025 national title.
