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Mississippi State vs Vanderbilt Odds and Picks – Game 2 College World Series

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in News

Updated Jun 29, 2021 · 7:19 AM PDT

The Vanderbilt baseball team celebrating by their dugout
Vanderbilt's Jayson Gonzalez (99) celebrates with teammates after scoring on a single by Carter Young during the seventh inning against Mississippi State in Game 1 of the NCAA College World Series baseball finals, Monday, June 28, 2021, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
  • The Vanderbilt Commodores are -175 favorites over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Game 2 of the College World Series on Tuesday, June 22
  • Vanderbilt whipped Mississippi State 8-2 in Game 1 of the best-of-three series
  • The reigning CWS-champions Commodores are seeking to be the first school to win back-to-back titles since South Carolina (2010-11)

The first game of the 2021 College World Series between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Mississippi State Bulldogs was much like the semifinal game that advanced Vanderbilt into the CWS final.

It was no contest.

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The Commodores scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a decisive 8-2 victory on Monday. Vanderbilt are -175 favorites to wrap up a second straight College World Series title with a win on Tuesday in Game 2 of the best-of-three series.

Vandy moved into the final after North Carolina was forced to drop out of the tournament because too many players had entered the NCAA’s COVID-19 protocols. Game 2 of the Wolfpack-Commodores semifinal was declared a no contest.

 Mississippi State vs Vanderbilt CWS Game 2 Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Total at BetMGM
Mississippi State +145 +1.5 (-105) O 8.5 (-120)
Vanderbilt -175 -1.5 (-115) U 8.5 (+100)

Odds as of June 29

Tuesday’s game at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska is slated for a 7pm ET first pitch. ESPN is carrying the broadcast.

Vandy is Dandy

That old sporting axiom about never sitting on a 1-0 lead could apply here. The only caveat is that most folks barely had time to sit down before the Commodores wiped out the Bulldogs’ scoreboard advantage in Game 1.

Mississippi State third baseman Kamren James took a 3-1 Jack Leiter pitch over the left-field fence for a 1-0 first-inning lead. That would prove to be the last reason to smile the Bulldogs would find all night long.

Vanderbilt lit up Mississippi State starting pitcher Christian MacLeod for six earned runs in the bottom of the first. MacLeod was chased after working just two-thirds of an inning.

The first batter whom reliever Chase Patrick faced was Vandy #9 hitter Jayson Gonzalez. He went deep for a three-run homer. By the time the damage was all done, the Commodores led 7-1 after one inning.

Two-Headed Monster

Leiter wasn’t as effective as he was while striking out 15 in a 1-0 loss to North Carolina in the first game of the semifinals. This time, though, he got the win.

The son of former big-league pitcher Al Leiter worked six innings of three-hit, two-run ball. Leiter struck out eight, leaving him four shy of breaking David Price’s school record of 194 strikeouts set in 2007.

The only question now is whether Commodores coach Tim Corbin will go to his other ace for Game 2. Kumar Rocker would be pitching on three day’s rest if he were to start Game 2.

Expectations are that Tuesday’s Vanderbilt starter probably would be Christian Little or Patrick Reilly.

Up 1-0, Corbin is able to maintain Rocker in reserve for a potential Game 3. Rocker was named Most Outstanding Player when Vanderbilt won the previous College World Series in 2019.

A Tough Hill To Climb

Mississippi State boasts that it’s the only SEC school to play in the College World Series in each of the past six decades. The trouble is, the Bulldogs are still without a title. They couldn’t even win in 1985, when the Mississippi State roster included Will Clark, Bobby Thigpen, Rafael Palmeiro, and Jeff Brantley.

Vanderbilt is a win away from its third NCAA title since 2014. And the Commodores still have the reigning CWS MOP to send to the mound if they need him.

Leiter and Rocker are two of the three finalists for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award, which goes to the best player in college baseball.

Pick: Vanderbilt (-175)

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