Jun 14, 2024; Omaha, NE, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center fielder Vance Honeycutt (7) celebrates after driving in the winning run against the Virginia Cavaliers during the ninth inning at Charles Schwab Filed Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
- Florida State and North Carolina meet in an elimination game in the College World Series
- Despite both being in the ACC, these two teams have not played each other this season
- Keep reading for the best Florida State vs North Carolina odds, picks, and starting pitchers for June 18
One more ACC team will be eliminated from the College World Series Tuesday afternoon as #8 Florida State (48-16) and #4 North Carolina (48-15) battle to keep their season alive.
After losing a heartbreaker to Tennessee in their first game, Florida State bounced back and eliminated Virginia with a 7-3 victory on Sunday. North Carolina defeated Virginia on a walk-off in the first game of the tournament then lost 6-1 to Tennessee. This will be the first time these two teams face off this season despite being in the same conference.
Florida State vs North Carolina Odds
| Team | Runline | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Tar Heels | +1.5 | -105 | OFF |
| Florida State Seminoles | -1.5 | -125 | OFF |
Florida State is a slight -125 favorite over North Carolina in Game 9 of the College World Series. The -125 odds means sportsbooks are giving the Seminoles an implied win probability of 55.56% to stay alive.
Odds as of June 17. Claim the best Fanatics promo code to get a bonus for the College World Series.
Florida State vs North Carolina Starting Pitchers
Each team’s #3 starter will go in this elimination game. Conner Whittaker, who is 5-0 with a 4.94 ERA will be on the mound for Florida State, while Aidan Haugh will start for North Carolina.
In his last outing, Whittaker pitched 3.1 innings against Tennessee and gave up three earned runs on six hits. In the NCAA Tournament, Whittaker has pitched 10.3 innings across three games and has struck out eight. His best outing came in the super regionals against UConn where he only allowed one hit across 3.2 innings of work. Whittaker has yet to eclipse four innings pitched in the NCAA Tournament, so he will do his best to eat up as many innings as he can against a North Carolina lineup that has been struggling of late.
Aidan Haugh has been used as both a starter and a reliever this season for the Tar Heels. Now facing elimination, he will be asked to start for North Carolina against a talented Florida State lineup. In his last outing against LSU, Haugh gave up four earned runs through three innings against the defending champs during regionals. Haugh is well-rested and will try to minimize Florida State’s power before the Tar Heels turn to closer Dalton Pence.
Conner Whittaker vs Aidan Haugh
| 5-0 | Record | 4-2 |
| 4.94 | ERA | 4.53 |
| 1.251 | WHIP | 1.548 |
| 58.1 | IP | 51.2 |
| 7.3 | K/9 | 10.1 |
Florida State vs North Carolina Predictions
The lineups of these teams could not be any different heading into this game. Florida State, who led the ACC in home runs, has scored 18 runs in their two College World Series games, while North Carolina has scored three runs or less in their last three games. The Tar Heels were one of the top lineups in the country this year, but have not scored over four runs in just one of their last six games. If they want to win this game, Vance Honeycutt and Co. will need to fix that.
This Florida State matchup gives North Carolina a chance to do that as Whittaker has not impressed in his last few starts. Even if these offenses return to form, this should be a lower scoring game than many would think. Charles Schwab Field is a pitcher’s ballpark already and the wind in Omaha is expected to be blowing in on Tuesday, which will negate the Seminoles’ home run power. Then North Carolina has the big edge when it comes to the bullpen. Pence did not pitch against Tennessee, so he will be well-rested and ready to go for as long as he is needed on Tuesday. Pence is one of the top closers in college baseball, and it would not surprise me if the Tar Heels turn to him quickly.
This should be an exciting matchup between ACC teams, and I believe North Carolina will squeeze out the win to get a rematch with Tennessee.
Florida State vs North Carolina Pick: North Carolina (-105)
It’s a rare occurrence when Zach is not talking about sports. He runs the social media accounts at SBD and specializes in betting on the NFL, CFB, CBB, and MLB. Zach graduated with a Master’s in Sports Journalism from St. Bonaventure University.
On June 18, the Florida State Seminoles will face off against the North Carolina Tar Heels in a highly anticipated matchup. Both teams have had successful seasons so far, with Florida State boasting a record of 35-17 and North Carolina sitting at 38-14.
In terms of pitching, the Seminoles will likely send their ace Drew Parrish to the mound. Parrish has been dominant this season, posting a 7-5 record with a 3.92 ERA. He has the ability to shut down opposing hitters with his fastball and breaking pitches, making him a formidable opponent for any team.
On the other side, North Carolina will likely start their own ace, Austin Bergner. Bergner has been lights out this season, compiling a 9-2 record with a 3.54 ERA. He has a devastating fastball and a sharp breaking ball that keeps hitters off balance. Bergner will look to continue his dominance on the mound against the Seminoles.
In terms of predictions, this game is shaping up to be a close one. Both teams have strong pitching staffs and potent offenses that can score runs in bunches. It will likely come down to which team can execute better in key situations and capitalize on their opportunities.
In terms of picks, it’s tough to say who will come out on top in this matchup. Both teams have the talent and experience to win, so it could go either way. However, if I had to make a prediction, I would give a slight edge to North Carolina due to their slightly better record and the dominance of Bergner on the mound.
Overall, this matchup between Florida State and North Carolina is sure to be an exciting one for fans of both teams. With two talented starting pitchers on the mound and strong offenses backing them up, it’s anyone’s game. Be sure to tune in on June 18 to see who comes out on top in this highly anticipated showdown.
