The game of College Baseball continues to grow, and it is amazing to see! One of the biggest examples of the sport’s growth has been the NCAA Baseball gambling market. In this article, I’ll list my best Opening Day College Baseball picks. College Baseball betting odds on some of the top games, how to watch them, and what side to be on.
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Opening Day College Baseball Picks February 16th
All Bets Are To Win 1 Unit
8:00 PM (+125) Northeastern at Arizona (-162) (O/U 12.5)
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Arizona: SO. LHP Jackson Kent (2023: 18 Apps (4 starts), 41 IP, 5.93 ERA, 33 K, 13 BB, .357 BAA)
Northeastern: SR. LHP Wyatt Scotti (2023: 15 Starts, 76 IP, 3.91 ERA, 57 K, 13 BB, .256 BAA)
I think Arizona is favored here because they are the power conference home team. Also, Hi Corbett Field is a launchpad, and Northeastern’s pitching staff pitches to contact. This sport isn’t covered nationally, Arizona playing their first game of a rebuilding phase may be getting overlooked after the Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament in 2023.
Scotti provides the Huskies an advantage on the mound. Northeastern was ranked 3rd nationally in Team ERA last year with a 3.75. Offensively the Huskies return 90 of their 106 home runs hit a season ago. Plus, the team also stole the 9th most bases per game (94-133).
Mike Sirota is a Centerfielder who is garnering attention inside the top 10 picks for this year, and Cam Maldonado is another speedy outfielder with power that Sirota could very well pave a path for Maldonado to also be drafted very high in the MLB Draft in 2025.
A shot on the midmajor team that returns a ton of experience and is pitching an established starter (at plus-money) over the rebuilding high major program is worth it every day of the week.
+125 Northeastern ML (BetRivers)
5:00 PM (-140) Kansas State vs Cal (+110) (O/U 12.5)
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Cal: True Freshman RHP Trey Newmann
Kansas State: Graduate LHP Owen Boerema (2023: 15 Starts, 85.1 IP, 5.06 ERA, 95 K, 34 BB, 3.43 SIERA)
On paper, Kansas State starting a grad senior against a true freshman is a ridiculous advantage. In D1Baseball’s Fall Report, Newmann was the 7th guy on the depth chart. He is a 6’6 RHP that throws in the mid90s. PerfectGame ranked him as their 801st best RHP in the 2023 recruiting class.
Kansas State may have a chip on their shoulder right now as the selection committee left them out to dry last year. The Wildcats enter this season with a top 25 ranking next to their name while bringing back some stars.
If Boerema can go deep into this game, it creates an easy transition to the nation’s best returning closing pitcher, Tyson Neighbors, who struck out 86 batters in 48.2 IP with a 1.85 ERA last season.
Coach Pete Hughes’ offense returns five regulars from last season. Most notably, Preseason All-American Kaelen Culpepper returns after leading the Team USA Collegiate National Team in batting average with a .471 in the summer.
-140 Kansas State ML (DraftKings)
NOON -115 Nebraska vs Baylor -115 (O/U 11.5)
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Baylor: JR. RHP Mason Marriott (2023: 14 Starts, 58.2 IP, 7.67 ERA, 50 K, 40 BB, 6.64 FIP)
Nebraska: JR. RHP Brett Sears (2023: 11 Apps, 17 IP, 5.29 ERA, 23 K, 4 BB)
Nebraska is the pick here for me, and I’m locking it up. Baylor is a basement team in the Big 12 and at least the Cornhuskers offense packs a punch as they hit the second most moonshots during B1G Ten conference play in 2023.
Prior to Nebraska, Sears was dominant at the JUCO level. He had a 3.06 ERA in 85.1 innings at Iowa Central and had a 1.34 K/9. I think with more opportunities this season, Sears can have a better year with Nebraska in 2024.
-115 Nebraska ML (DraftKings)
Opening Day College Baseball Picks February 16th
For more analysis and entertainment on college baseball gambling, make sure you tune into The College Baseball Experience. During the season, Colby Dant and Noah Bieniek will talk about and pick the winners of the biggest series of each weekend.
