UF vs LSU

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Developing Stories 📰

The College World Series Finals are set as #2 Florida takes on #5 LSU in a best-of-three game set starting on Saturday. The Gators swept their three round-robin contests to reach the championship round, while the Tigers suffered an early week loss to Wake Forest, before beating them twice in consecutive elimination games, including an 11th inning walk-off win on Thursday to reach this point.

Florida did just enough in each of its three games to register a victory. All three of their wins were by a single run, including Wednesday’s 3-2 nail bitter over TCU. The Gators blew an 8th inning lead but came right back in the 9th to score the game winning run. Florida pitchers are scoring less than four runs per game so far. The starting rotation The  is led by fireballer Brandon Sproat and projected first round pick Hurston Waldrep. The duo combined to throw 13.1 innings of four run ball in Omaha, scattering 12 hits, while striking out 19. The Gators have been getting plenty of timely hitting, especially of the long ball variety. They’ve hit seven home runs through three games, while the rest of the College World Series teams have combined to hit just 12. Florida has now cranked a program record 136 home runs this season, while averaging 10 hits a game. Jac Caglianone leads the team with 31 homers this season, and also started Wednesday’s victory over TCU. Caglianone has been quiet at the dish in the CWS, but his teammates have not been.

LSU was one of only two teams all year to hold the number one ranking in the country. They’re making their SEC record 19th trip to the CWS but are looking for their first title since 2009.The Tigers were dominant in the Regional and Super Regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament outscoring them 48-17. They have one of the top lineups in the country, led by Dylan Crews, the number one MLB prospect. Crews hit .434 this season with 17 home runs, and helped LSU boast a fantastic .314/.438/.569 line. They hit 133 home runs during the regular season, but so far in the CWS the bats have gone a bit cold. The Tigers are averaging only 3.6 runs per game, with five home runs. They did get some timely hitting when they needed it most on Thursday, as Tommy White delivered a walk-off home run to put LSU into the finals. The Tigers have survived the lack of offense, thanks to some incredible pitching, led by the national pitcher of the year Paul Skenes. He struck out 12 batters in his first start in Omaha, before shutting out Wake Forest over 8 innings. He wound up throwing 120 pitches against the Demon Deacons meaning he likely won’t be available until Game 3 versus the Gators, if at all. There’s no need to worry if you’re a Tigers though, as the rest of the pitching staff has been lights out at the CWS. They’ve surrendered only six runs total this week, and just two over the last three games.

Headlines 🚨

On This Day in Sport History: 2003 Barry Bonds steals second base against the LA Dodgers, becoming the first player in MLB history to have 500 career homers and 500 steals.

The Victor Wembanyama era has officially begun, as the Spurs made him the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday night's NBA draft.

The Charlotte Hornets took Brandon Miller with the second pick of the 2023 NBA draft Thursday night, choosing the Alabama forward over G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson.

History was made inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn during the 2023 NBA draft Thursday night when commissioner Adam Silver announced brothers Amen and Ausar Thompson as back-to-back draft picks.

The Chicago Bulls are entering the offseason with the expectation that guard Lonzo Ball will not be ready to play next season with a knee injury.

Grizzlies acquiring Marcus Smart in 3-team deal involving Kristaps Porzingis, Tyus Jones, and draft picks.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders will not need his left foot amputated at this time, although he's set for a procedure Friday to relieve clots in both of his legs.

LSU coach Les Miles may no longer be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame after the school vacated 37 wins as part of NCAA penalties announced Thursday.

Former LSU HC and current McNeese State men's basketball coach Will Wade was given a two-year show-cause order and a 10-game suspension for three Level I violations.

Slamball signed a 2-year deal with ESPN and will be returning next month.C

Trends 📈📉 via Oddsshark

⚾️ Braves at Reds

• The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Cincinnati's last 9 games when playing at home against Atlanta

⚾️ Royals at Rays

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Kansas City's last 5 games on the road

• Kansas City is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Tampa Bay

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 5 games at home

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Tampa Bay's last 6 games

⚾️ Twins at Tigers

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 5 games

• The total has gone OVER in 6 of Detroit's last 7 games at home 

⚾️ Mariners at Orioles

• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Seattle's last 6 games when playing Baltimore

⚾️ Rangers at Yankees

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Texas's last 7 games when playing on the road against NY Yankees

⚾️ Mets at Phillies

• NY Mets is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Philadelphia

• NY Mets is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Philadelphia

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia's last 5 games

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Philadelphia's last 7 games at home

⚾️ Athletics at Blue Jays

• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Toronto's last 7 games when playing Oakland

⚾️ Red Sox at White Sox

• The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chi White Sox's last 9 games at home

⚾️ Angels at Rockies

• LA Angels is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against Colorado

• The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Angels's last 6 games when playing on the road against Colorado

• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Colorado's last 5 games at home

⚾️ Nationals at Padres

• The total has gone UNDER in 17 of San Diego's last 23 games at home

⚾️ Astros at Dodgers

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of Houston's last 5 games

• Houston is 6-2 ATS in its last 8 games when playing on the road against LA Dodgers

• The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games at home 

Public Money 🤑 via VSiN at 9AMCT

⚾️ MLB

41% of bets and 58% of money is on OVER 11 ATL at CIN

60% of bets and 82% of money is on TEX -1.5 (+145)

42% of bets and 64% of money is on OVER 9.5 NYM at PHI

51% of bets and 70% of money is on OVER 9 OAK at TOR

52% of bets and 79% of money is on UNDER 8 MIL at CLE

46% of bets and 86% of money is on UNDER 8.5 HOU at LAD

Future Odds 🔮 via Bovada Sportsbook

Injury Report 🏥 via ESPN

ATL (C) Sean Murphy | Day-to-Day - Hamstring, will not catch in today’s game

BOS (RF) Alex Verdugo | Bereavement - Will rejoin the team next Tuesday

BOS (SS) Yu Chang | 60 Day IL - Wrist, was moved to the 60 day IL yesterday

BOS (C) Reese McGwire | 10 Day IL - Left yesterday’s game with oblique strain

CLE (RF) Will Brennan | Day-to-Day - Shoulder

PIT (LF) Bryan Reynolds | 10 Day IL - Back, placed on 10 day IL yesterday

SF (LF) Mitch Haniger | 60 Day IL - Forearm, was moved to 60 day IL yesterday

SF (CF) Mike Yastrzemski | Day-to-Day - Hamstring

TOR (SS) Bo Bichette | Day-to-Day - Thumb

Weekend Picks 🔒

UFC

Neil Magny -165 | Magny is a seasoned veteran in the UFC with a record of 27-10. He has fought some of the best fighters in the welterweight division and has proven himself to be a tough opponent. Magny is known for his well-rounded skillset, but he has a significant grappling advantage over Phil Rowe in this matchup.

MLB

Reds +1.5 (-115) | Cincinnati is 14-11 on the run line as a home underdog. They are 22-16 on the run line as the home team as well. Both are situations it will be in on Friday evening.

Red Sox/Twins Over 9 (-102) | The Over is 8-2 in Minnesota’s last 10 games and 9-1 across the last 10 series contests. Boston’s bulk hurler, Brandon Walter, owns a 6.28 ERA, 1.67 WHIP at Triple-A this season. Both bullpens have some fatigue-not-likely-available situations to work around.