Arkansas and Vanderbilt Now Co-Favored to Win 2019 College World Series Following Lopsided Victories in Super Regionals

• Following the Super Regionals, the bracket for the College World Series has been set
• The biggest upset involved Michigan taking down top-ranked UCLA
• Arkansas and Vanderbilt are now listed as co-favorites; where else is there value?

The College World Series is known for craziness, but the craziest thing that could have happened? That took place in the Super Regionals.

Top ranked UCLA is gone, bounced by Michigan in three games. Now, no. 2 Vanderbilt and no. 5 Arkansas are fighting it out for favorite status.

Is it as simple as choosing between the two, or is there someone else in the field we should be keeping an eye on?

2019 College World Series Odds

*Odds taken 06/12/19. National Ranking taken from NCAA on 05/28/19

Arkansas is the biggest benefactor of UCLA’s stunning upset. They were tied for second at +500 before Super Regionals. Now they’re tied with Vanderbilt at +300.

Michigan still has the longest odds on the table, but they’ve improved drastically. After opening at +5000, now they’re sitting at +1400.

Auburn and Florida State enjoyed nice jumps as well. Our favorite underdog, Texas Tech, has gone from +1200 to +850.

2019 Super Regional Finals Stats

When looking at their Regional results, Vanderbilt’s numbers are a little misleading. They went from losing the first game 18-5 to Duke, to outscoring them 16-2 over the last two games. That includes a no-hitter from Kumar Rocker.

Vanderbilt freshman Kumar Rocker threw a 19-strikeout no-hitter tonight.

No MLB pitcher has ever struck out more than 17 in a no-hitter ?pic.twitter.com/NXA8sz5UCL

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 9, 2019

The numbers don’t look as good for Michigan. Yes they pulled off the upset, allowing the fewest runs in any three-game series. But they also tied for the fewest runs scored, with just 11 over three games.

While what we discussed ahead of the Super Regionals didn’t hold true for UCLA, many of these teams did it with dominant pitching. And they’ll need that to happen again if they want to win.

Vanderbilt, Arkansas Enter as College World Series Co-Favorites

These two have enjoyed dominant seasons in the NCAA. Sports Illustrated is making sure they get their due too, as they top their power rankings entering the tournament.

For your scheduling needs: the 2019 College World Series bracket. pic.twitter.com/mQfgUZIT8M

— Andrew Scaglione (@AndrewScags) June 11, 2019

Arkansas is looking to make it back-to-back finals appearances, and avenge last year’s heartbreak. Vanderbilt meanwhile, is arguably the most well-rounded team. The nice thing here, is that you don’t necessarily have to choose one over the other. Sitting on opposite sides of the bracket, it’s conceivable that they decide the 2019 title.

College World Series Underdogs to Watch

With just six other teams to choose from, some are longer shots than others. Auburn and Michigan are going to have tough runs, getting over Mississippi State and Texas Tech respectively. An unenviable start in a double elimination tournament.

Auburn and Michigan are going to have tough runs, getting over Mississippi State and Texas Tech respectively.

But their opponents may be worth watching. Tech would have a second round matchup with Arkansas, while State draws Vanderbilt if the top seeds do what they should.

For Mississippi, JT Ginn is expected to be ready to go, which would be huge.

Updates from Chris Lemonis:
-JT Ginn is fine and will throw today.
-Jack Eagan is much better and could even be an option in Omaha.
-He says the ninth inning Sunday was one of the best moments of his coaching career and maybe even one of the greatest in MSU history.

— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) June 11, 2019

Fresh off of being named National Freshman of the Year, Ginn would join Peyton Plumlee and Ethan Small. The two starters combined to throw 12.2 innings of seven-hit, 14 strikeout ball, allowing just one earned run against Stanford.

Meanwhile the Red Raiders have an offense that just hums. And that’s after Cam Warren went 1-for-11 against Oklahoma State. Dylan Neuse and Brian Klein combined for nine hits and seven RBI against Oklahoma State, while Josh Jung smacked three home runs.

THE SCORING HAS STARTED!!

Dylan Neuse makes it 2-0 with the 2-out, 2-run single! #RoadToOmaha | @TTU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/EOwoC24d0x

— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) June 7, 2019

They did need some late-inning heroics to make it to the College World Series, however. They scored 10 runs in the sixth inning for later in their three-game series, allowing nine in that same stretch.

Who to Bet for the 2019 NCAA College World Series

Betting both Vanderbilt and Arkansas isn’t a terrible idea, because of the possibility that they meet up in the best of three.

But forced to choose one, the smart move could be to ride Arkansas.

"There's college baseball, then there's Vanderbilt baseball."

@_KumarRocker joined @jimrome to talk College World Series, his no-hitter and much more.#RoadToOmaha | #VandyBoys pic.twitter.com/FHzUERGFTM

— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) June 12, 2019

Texas Tech’s bullpen woes have us backing off their dark horse status, and if they’re somehow upset by Michigan? That bodes well for Arkansas. Vanderbilt has to maneuver their way through Mississippi State, who won’t make it easy. A secondary bet the Bulldogs’ way would be a good idea.

But ahead of things getting underway this weekend, Vanderbilt looks like the best bet to take home the title.

Pick: Vanderbilt (+300)