2026 College World Series Predictions & Best Bets

The College World Series gets underway on Friday in Omaha, Nebraska.

What began as a field of 64 has dwindled down to eight following some thrilling action in the regionals and super regionals.

Georgia, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, North Carolina, West Virginia, Ole Miss and Troy are the last teams standing in the quest for baseball’s NCAA championship.

SEC dominance is nothing new on the college diamond. In fact, the powerhouse conference has won six consecutive National Championships, with LSU taking two of the last three titles.

As if that isn’t enough, six of the last eight national runners-up have hailed from the SEC. During this run, Ole Miss (2022) is the only champion that is back in Omaha this year.

Oklahoma (2022) is a recent finalist that has made a return trip to the College World Series this year.

With five SEC representatives having advanced to the last eight, there was also going to be at least three in the same round-robin group.

However, there are four in the same quarter - conference rivals Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma will duke it out for one spot in the championship series.

On the other side of the bracket, Ole Miss is joined by North Carolina of the ACC, West Virginia of the Big 12 and Troy of the Sun Belt.

College World Series betting picks and predictions

Texas to win (+300)

Texas lifting the trophy would be nothing new. This program has won the College World Series six times (third most all time behind USC and LSU) and has played in the championship series on 12 occasions (second most behind only USC).

The Longhorns have not triumphed since 2005 or finished runner-up since 2009 during the days when legendary head coach Augie Garrido was at the helm, but this 2026 squad may be poised to get back on top behind second-year head coach Jim Schlossnagle.

Immediately after leading Texas A&M to a runner-up performance in 2024, Schlossnagle infamously bolted from College Station for arch-rival Texas, despite denying all rumors that he would do so.

Unfortunately for the haters, it has worked out extremely well for Schlossnagle and the ‘Horns so far.

After compiling a 44-14 record in year one of the new regime, Texas is 45-13 this season and 9-1 in its last 10 games.

It is undefeated so far in the NCAA Tournament, making mincemeat out of its three regional opponents before sweeping Oregon in the Super Regional.

The Longhorns’ lineup is led by outfielder Aiden Robbins, who is batting .342 with 24 home runs. He went 6-for-14 with four homers in the regional.

At the top end of the rotation is Dylan Volantis. The left-hander is 10-1 in 2026 with a 2.03 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in addition to an incredible 126-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 88.2 innings of work.

Volantis is the kind of ace who can put a team on his back and carry it to a championship.

Ole Miss to win (+800)

Ole Miss is a program that won it all four years ago and is on the weaker side of the bracket, so you have to like its value at relatively long odds.

While four SEC teams slug it out in one group, the Rebels find themselves with the lowest-ranked SEC team in Omaha (Oklahoma) and the longshot of the entire field (Troy).

North Carolina is obviously a formidable foe, but having to beat the Tar Heels is still better than being forced to get past both Georgia and Texas just to reach the championship series.

The Rebels compiled a mediocre 15-15 regular-season record in the SEC and lost right away in the conference tournament to Missouri.

However, it is safe to say that they have gotten hot at the right time. Ole Miss has not lost a single game in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Arizona State (twice) and Nebraska in the Lincoln Regional before sweeping Auburn 6-4 and 5-3 in the Super Regional.

When you have the pitching depth that Ole Miss brings to the table, you are always going to have a chance.

If starters Taylor Rabe and Cade Townsend continue their fine form and reliever Walker Hooks gets back on track following a bit of a speedbump against Auburn in the supers, there is no limit on the Rebels’ ceiling. 

College World Series outright odds

Georgia	+275
North Carolina	+275
Texas	+300
West Virginia	+750
Ole Miss	+800
Alabama	+1400
Oklahoma	+1600
Troy +3500	+3500

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.