Tennessee players walk off the field after their second NCAA College World Series win against Florida State at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
- The College World Series is finally here, with the Tennessee Volunteers facing off against the Texas A&M Aggies starting Saturday, June 22.
- The Vols are the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the championship series by downing North Carolina and Florida State twice. Texas A&M is the No. 3 seed and beat Kentucky and Florida twice.
- See the odds, pitchers and a prediction for Saturday’s College World Series game below.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the end of the line. The NCAA Tournament field has been whittled from 64 to 2, with the nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 seeds still standing.
Tennessee and Texas A&M, respectively, are the teams in question. The Vols and Aggies led the way in team pitching and batting stats across the SEC this season, widely considered to be the best conference in college baseball. Interestingly, this will be the 7th straight season featuring an SEC program in the championship series.
Tennessee and Texas A&M have combined to reach the CWS 15 times (not counting this season), but neither have won the title. That will change in a week’s time!
Keep scrolling to see the best odds and a prediction for Game 1.
Tennessee vs. Texas A&M Odds
| Team | Runline | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | +1.5 (-135) | +140 | O 10.5 (-120) |
| Tennessee | -1.5 (+105) | -180 | U 10.5 (-110) |
Odds above via Fanatics Sportsbook. Check out our Fanatics Promo Code for more information on a fantastic welcome offer!
Tennessee is listed as the moderate favorite for Saturday’s CWS matchup, sitting at -180 ML. Texas A&M is given +140 Odds according to Fanatics.
The Vols are also runline favorites, though Texas A&M is favored to keep the game within at run at -135. Tennessee comes in at -1.5 (+105).
The Over/Under for this matchup is set at 10.5, with the over slightly favored at -120. Remember, these are 2 of the best offenses in the country, but both also sit in the top 10 of Team ERA. I give the nod to the batters in this scenario, as jitters for being in the Championship series might affect defense at the start of this one.
Texas A&M has won a lot of close, lower scoring games while Tennessee tends to win high scoring matchups. The Vols put up a total of 25 runs across 3 games while Texas A&M put up 21 runs across their 3 games. Of course, neither Texas A&M or Tennessee have lost in Omaha yet.
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Texas A&M Aggies Prediction (June 22)
The Volunteers offensive prowess has been talked about, but I’m not quite sure any casual fans know just how elite these Vols really are on the offensive end. Tennessee has 5 players with 20+ home runs this season and leads the nation’s home run mark with 178. For further reference, that’s just 10 shy of the all-time NCAA record for most home runs in a season (LSU, 1997).
Now, don’t make that seem like Texas A&M can’t compete in this regard. The Aggies have scored the 4th most runs in the country among Power 5 teams and sit at 5th in total home runs (132). As stated earlier regarding defensive jitters, that alone should give the over a strong chance of hitting. On top of that, 10.5 actually seems a little low in my opinion considering the Vols have averaged 8 runs per game in Omaha.
When it comes to a pick between these teams, I just think Tennessee is a juggernaut and the overall better team. The Vols won their only meeting this season in the SEC Tournament, 7-4. This one may turn out similarly.
TENN vs. TAMU picks: Tennessee -1.5 (+105), Over 10.5 (-110)
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Down South and contributor with SBD!
The College World Series is set to kick off with an exciting matchup between Texas A&M and Tennessee in Game 1. Both teams have had successful seasons leading up to this point, and fans are eager to see how they will perform on the big stage.
Texas A&M comes into the game with a record of 45-21, finishing second in the SEC standings. The Aggies have a strong lineup led by standout hitters like Logan Sartori and Will Frizzell, who have been key contributors throughout the season. On the mound, Texas A&M will rely on ace pitcher Dustin Saenz, who has been dominant with a 9-1 record and a 2.67 ERA.
On the other side, Tennessee boasts a record of 50-16 and finished as the runner-up in the SEC tournament. The Volunteers have a potent offense led by Drew Gilbert and Jordan Beck, who have been driving in runs all season long. Pitching-wise, Tennessee will look to Chad Dallas to lead the way, as he has posted a 10-1 record with a 4.29 ERA.
In terms of predictions, this game is expected to be a close one as both teams are evenly matched. Texas A&M has the edge in pitching with Saenz on the mound, but Tennessee’s offense has been explosive all season long. It will likely come down to which team can execute in key moments and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
As for the odds, sportsbooks have Texas A&M as slight favorites with -120 odds, while Tennessee is listed at +110. This indicates that oddsmakers believe it will be a tight contest with either team having a chance to come out on top.
Overall, fans can expect an exciting and competitive game between Texas A&M and Tennessee in Game 1 of the College World Series. Both teams have the talent and experience to make a deep run in the tournament, and this matchup will set the tone for what should be an action-packed series.
