The third and final game of the College World Series finals gets underway today as the Vanderbilt Commodores (49-17) face the Mississippi State Bulldogs (49-18) in a winner-take-all showdown.
Tennessee sportsbooks expect Vandy to defend its title and walk away NCAA baseball kings once again.
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Game 2 upset forces winner-take-all Game 3 faceoff
Vandy maneuvered into the finals last week after NC State forfeited its place in the series when eight players tested positive for the Delta variant of COVID-19.
After that, the Commodores set out with something to prove, blasting full speed out of the gate Monday during Game 1. The defending champs pulled away with an 8-2 victory and sauntered into Game 2 only one win away from being re-crowned the top team in college baseball.
That game plan quickly crumbled Tuesday after a few innings of competition. The Bulldogs came back biting in Game 2, advancing four runs in the third inning and ultimately ending the game with a 13-2 win. Vanderbilt’s pitchers permitted 10 total walks, allowing the Bulldogs to load the bases and snag such an impressive upset.
Tonight’s third game of the series will force a decision in the matter. By the end of the night, college baseball will crown a new national champion.
After an easy win on Tuesday night, star Mississippi State pitcher Will Bednar and reliever Landon Sims are rested up and ready to unleash their arms on the Vandy boys.
Vanderbilt has a cannon of its own in store, however, in the way of Kumar Rocker. Rocker received the CWS Most Outstanding Player award in 2019 and enters this game after four days of rest.
The Bulldogs will be fighting for their first-ever championship win. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, looks to claim its third national title since 2014.
Game 3 College World Series odds
Tonight’s game features an over/under of 7.5 runs. Judging by the past two games, which averaged 12.5 runs per game, the total could hit here.
Sportsbooks favor Vanderbilt in this Game 3 matchup, though they don’t expect them to win by more than one run. DraftKings Tennessee gives Vandy -125 odds of besting the Bulldogs and walking away with the conclusive win tonight.
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt | -1.5 (+155) | O 7.5 (-115) | -125 |
| Mississippi State | +1.5 (-180) | U 7.5 (-105) | +105 |
Those who didn’t make the trek to Omaha to catch the final game in person can tune into ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET.
