Arkansas vs UCLA Odds, Predictions & Probable Pitchers (CWS Elimination Game)

• The Arkansas Razorbacks meet the UCLA Bruins with a spot in the CWS semifinal on the line tonight
• The Bruins game with LSU on Monday was suspended and had to be completed this morning
• See my Arkansas vs UCLA picks and prediction, plus the best betting odds for the moneyline, spread, and total

The Arkansas Razorbacks (46-13) and UCLA Bruins (45-17) square off in an elimination game at the 2025 College World Series on Tuesday night. The winner will earn a date with LSU in the semifinals, while the loser will head home. First pitch from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha is set for 6:00 pm CT/7:00 pm ET.

The Bruins had the misfortune of being postponed due to weather in the fourth inning against LSU on Monday night, and had to play 5.5 innings on Tuesday morning. The Razorbacks, the pre-tournament favorites, were always going to be favored, but now the Arkansas vs UCLA odds heavily favor the Razorbacks advancing to meet their SEC rivals.

Arkansas vs UCLA Odds

Only one sportsbook (DraftKings) has posted odds for this game, and they have established the Razorbacks as heavy -345 betting favorites on the moneyline. UCLA comes back as a +245 underdog to keep its season alive. On the runline, Arkansas is favored by 2.5 with -125 odds to cover. UCLA is -105 to keep the score within two runs. The game total is sitting at 10.0 with -115 odds each way.

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UCLA used eight pitchers during its 9-5 loss to LSU, which spanned Monday night and Tuesday morning. Arkansas is in much better shape; Gage Wood pitched a complete-game no-hitter against Murray State yesterday and the Razorbacks had Sunday off.

ARK vs UCLA Common Opponents

Arkansas has faced just one Big Ten team all season, beating Michigan 8-6 in a neutral-site game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX, back on February 23rd. The Bruins were 2-0 against Michigan this season, obliterating the Wolverines 22-5 at home on March 4th, and also taking a 7-5 decision in Omaha during the Big Ten Tournament.

Similarly, UCLA played just one SEC team (before the Monday/Tuesday meeting with LSU), losing 8-3 to Vanderbilt at home on February 28th in the Southern California College Baseball Classic. Arkansas was an impressive 3-0 against Vandy, taking 9-0, 6-4, and 7-3 victories on the road from March 28th to 30th.

Including the CWS, the other common opponents shared by Arkansas and UCLA are:

• Washington State: Arkansas went 4-0, UCLA went 1-0
• Murray State: both teams went 1-0
• LSU: Arkansas is 1-3, UCLA is 0-1

ARK vs UCLA Probable Pitchers

Editor’s note: Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn has confirmed that Zach Root will start on Tuesday night. Root has made 18 starts this season and logged a team-high 94.1 IP. He was pulled after just 38 pitches (1.2 IP) in Saturday’s loss to LSU. Root posted a 3.82 ERA with 121 strikeouts while allowing 33 walks and seven home runs. The remainder of this section was written prior to the announcement.

With Gage Wood coming off a 119-pitch no-hitter last night and Zach Root on just three days’ rest, it would make sense for Arkansas to start Landon Beidelschies, who posted a 4.92 ERA in 12 starts (15 appearances) this season, going 4-0 in the process. Beidelschies hasn’t pitched since throwing two innings in relief during a 6-2 over North Dakota State on May 30, so he’ll be very well rested.

Realistically, though, Arkansas is going to lean heavily on its bullpen, which got the night off yesterday during Wood’s complete game and had an off-day on Sunday.

The Bruins are in a much worse situation, pitching-wise; they used their top two starters in the last two games (Landon Stump started against LSU and Michael Barnett started against Murray State), and third starter Ian May pitched in relief earlier today (24 pitches in 0.2 innings). A total of eight pitchers saw action during the LSU game on Monday/Tuesday, and five of those same pitchers (May, Wylan Moss, Jack O’Connor, August Souza, and Easton Hawk) also pitched on Sunday against Murray State.

There is only one UCLA pitcher who has appeared in the last seven games and didn’t pitch in the last three days: Cal Randall (3.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP in 23.1 innings, all in relief). Coach John Savage has been relying heavily on the same half-dozen arms throughout UCLA’s postseason run.

Arkansas vs UCLA Picks & Prediction

• Arkansas -2.5 (-125)

This has all the trappings of a rout. UCLA is down to scraps when it comes to pitchers, while the Razorbacks have a full complement of relief arms to get them through nine innings. Arkansas boasts the tenth-best team ERA in all of DI (3.92), which half a run better than UCLA in 24th (4.40), despite the Razorbacks playing a much tougher SEC slate.

Arkansas also hits for a higher average (20th at .310 vs UCLA in 54th at .298) and for more power, sitting fourth in total home runs (125) compared to UCLA in 55th with just 78.

Arkansas may no longer be the favorite in the College World Series odds (sitting at +600, well behind LSU at +120 and CCU at +195), but they are better than UCLA in almost every statistical category and are in much better shape in terms of available pitchers.