North Carolina vs West Virginia Picks, Predictions & Odds for CWS

• North Carolina is listed as a 62-cent (-163) favorite against West Virginia in the College World Series this afternoon
• UNC can advance to the Final with a victory
• Get the North Carolina vs West Virginia picks, predictions and odds for the College World Series, below

The Final four is set at the College World Series, with the first semifinal pitting North Carolina against West Virginia. UNC took down the Mountaineers 5-2 on Sunday, and need just one win to advance to the final. Prediction markets like their chances to punch their ticket this afternoon, pegging the Tar Heels as sizeable favorites.

First pitch for this showdown is scheduled for 2:00 pm ET from Charles Schwab Field, in Omaha, Nebraska, with ESPN providing the broadcast coverage.

Below, you’ll find my North Carolina vs West Virginia picks and predictions, along with the latest odds for this College World Series contest.

North Carolina vs West Virginia Odds (CWS)

Odds as of June 17 at Kalshi. Make sure you use SBD’s exclusive Kalshi sign-up bonus before wagering on the College World Series.

As of Wednesday morning, North Carolina is trading at 62-cents to beat West Virginia for a second time, which is the equivalent of a -163 moneyline favorite in traditional sports betting terms. The Mountaineers come back as a 43-cent underdog (+133), while the total is trading at 59 cents to exceed 12.5 runs (-144).

North Carolina vs West Virginia Picks and Predictions

• West Virginia Moneyline (43¢ at Kalshi)

North Carolina advanced to the semis by beating Ole Miss 6-2 and then taking down West Virginia. The Mountaineers on the other hand, will be facing elimination for a second consecutive game, after dismantling Troy 12-0 in a do-or-die matchup on Tuesday. West Virginia pounded 14 hits and drew 8 walks, and have now scored 96 runs over their past 10 games.

UNC may have stifled the West Virginia bats in their first matchup, but I’m expecting a different result today. North Carolina will send Folger Boaz to the mound, who hasn’t pitched in a live game since May. The lefty also carries a 7.03 ERA, which is a recipe for disaster against this Mountaineers lineup. West Virginia doesn’t hit for power, but they are always on base. The Mountaineers average over 7.5 runs per game, while hitting for a .307 average. They walk at one of the highest rates in the country, and strikeout at one of the lowest, all while manufacturing runs with small ball and timely hitting.

This style of play suits Omaha beautifully, as the wider dimensions of the ball park make relying solely on power problematic. The Mountaineers were my favorite bet pretournament in the College World Series odds largely for this reason. Another reason was their starting pitching depth, and I’m banking on a bounce back performance from Chansen Cole after he was knocked around by Troy in the tournament opener.

Prior to that start, Cole was lights out allowing two or fewer runs in four straight appearances. That includes the Super Regional Round versus Cal Poly, where he threw 7 innings of two-run ball, while striking out 11. His K/9 rate has hovered around 10 all season long, and he’s given the Mountaineers at least 5 innings of work in all but one of his last seven starts. That will be important today, as West Virginia used four of their relievers in yesterday’s victory.

As for the UNC offense, they boast a strong blend of contact and power hitters, but they haven’t caught fire at any point like the West Virginia bats. The Tar Heels have scored five and six runs respectively in their first two games, but have leaned more on their arms than their bats. They won’t have that luxury today with Boaz on the mound, and they’ll need some timely hitting to keep pace with Mountaineers.

Ultimately, I can’t pass on West Virginia at this price. They have the advantage on the mound, and their lineup is simply too efficient to be catching such favorable odds. I’m expecting them to win today to force another do-or-die game tomorrow, likely opposing UNC ace Caden Glauber.