The 2022 men’s College World Series is down to Ole Miss and Oklahoma following the weeklong double-elimination tournament format. These two schools have worked all year to have the opportunity to claim a national title, making this weekend’s best-of-three series a must-watch whether you're a casual baseball fan or you’re looking to cash in some bets.
Below, we'll break down the series odds and see if the betting markets allow for an opportunity to make worthwhile wagers.
MORE CWS: Full schedule
College World Series 2022 Championship Odds: Before the tournament
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction
- Ole Miss +650 (implied probability 13.33 percent)
- Oklahoma +700 (implied probability 12.50 percent)
In terms of their championship odds, Ole Miss and Oklahoma were priced in the bottom half of the eight teams entering Omaha. Ole Miss was a bit of a surprise selection to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament following a 32-22 regular-season finish. The Rebels were the last at-large team in the field and have clearly made the most of their opportunity.
The Rebels’ recent play has made the selection committee look really wise, as Ole Miss has breezed through the regional and super regional rounds. The Rebels have lost just one CWS game en route to their first championship appearance.
Oklahoma has been red hot since the start of postseason play as well, claiming the Big 12 championship and then winning the Gainesville regional and Blacksburg super regional. The Sooners have yet to drop a game in Omaha; they enter the championship series with a 3-0 record and plus-13 run differential.
Updated College World Series 2022 Championship Odds
- Ole Miss -123 (implied probability 55.16 percent)
- Oklahoma -101 (implied probability 50.25 percent)
It’s interesting to see Ole Miss as the slight favorite entering this best-of-three championship series. While both teams are playing their best baseball when it matters most, Oklahoma has a slight edge over Ole Miss right now.
Oklahoma enters the championship series with one extra day of rest following its 5-1 championship-clinching win over Texas A&M on Wednesday. In the victory, Sooners No. 2 starter David Sandlin (8-4, 5.54 ERA) gave Oklahoma seven solid innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out 12. Sandlin gave way to lockdown reliever Trevin Michael (4-1, 2.94 ERA), who recorded the final six outs.
1⃣2⃣ strikeouts on the day for David Sandlin 🔥
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) June 22, 2022
💥 Career High
💥 Tied most by a Big 12 Pitcher in #MCWS @ESPN x @OU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/5Aa0OYaBD6
As I mentioned in the CWS preview, I liked the Sooners to make a run in Omaha because of its starting pitching depth, offensive firepower and bullpen stability. With Sandlin pitching Wednesday, Oklahoma enters the championship with ace Jake Bennett (9-3, 3.53 ERA) and Cade Horton (4-2, 5.58 ERA) on full rest. The Sooners' offense also boasts an impressive .298 team batting average and .881 OPS, and it’s capable of carrying OU to victory if its pitching underperforms.
With Ole Miss utilizing ace Dylan DeLucia to get the Rebels into the championship series, it will likely be without him for Games 1 and 2. DeLucia’s pitching has been the main catalyst behind the Rebels' success in Omaha. The junior right-hander has logged 16 2/3 innings, allowing only one run on eight hits while sporting a dominant 18:0 K:BB ratio.
Dylan DeLucia is the first SEC pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout in the CWS since 1993!! #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/ivpTCGOP1K
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) June 23, 2022
Outside of its 13-5 victory over Arkansas on Monday, Ole Miss has won because of its pitching staff’s effectiveness. The offense has done enough but hasn’t been asked to step up yet. The Rebels scored nine runs total in their other three CWS games. Can they continue to rely on their lights-out pitching against a much more potent Oklahoma offense?
2022 College World Series best bet
Oklahoma Series Price -101 (up to -125)
I see a slight edge in Oklahoma’s series price, as these series odds should probably be flipped.
Despite Ole Miss’ Cinderella-type run in the NCAA Tournament, Oklahoma’s offense will be the most balanced unit the Rebels have faced in the past month.
Without DeLucia available for Game 1, the Rebels will likely lean on Hunter Elliot (5-3, 2.70 ERA) to attempt to get Ole Miss out to a 1-0 series lead. Elliot has been effective in the NCAA Tournament, surrendering just two runs in his two starts. Opposite him, Sooners ace Jake Bennett will get the ball with a well-rested bullpen behind him.
I would bet the Sooners up to -125 (implied probability 55.56 percent) to claim their first national title since 1994. Additionally, a bet on Oklahoma to win Game 1 of the championship series is worth a look with the Sooners possessing the pitching edge and the current odds sitting at a pick ‘em. Boomer Sooner.
