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NCAA regionals breakdown: Betting lines, analysis for all opening-round SEC games
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The NCAA Tournament will get underway on Friday with 32 opening-round games.
A record-breaking 11 SEC teams will be participating in NCAA regionals this weekend, with 5 programs set to host: Kentucky, Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Below is a quick breakdown of each opening-round game involving a SEC team along with the latest betting odds for each Friday contest:
Note: All lines below are via DraftKings.
No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Western Michigan | 12 p.m. ET | SEC Network
Run line: Kentucky -5.5 (+105) | Western Michigan +5.5 (-135)
Money line: Kentucky -720 | Western Michigan +450
Kentucky is a big favorite to win the Lexington Regional, and its path starts with a game against Western Michigan on Friday afternoon. Kentucky has not yet announced its starting pitcher for this game. Trey Pooser was UK’s most consistent starter throughout the year, posting a 4.02 ERA across 69.1 innings of work.
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No. 2 LSU vs. No. 3 Wofford | 12 p.m. ET | ESPN U
Run line: LSU -2.5 (-135) | Wofford +2.5 (+105)
Money line: LSU -315 | Wofford +230
LSU earned the No. 2 seed in the Chapel Hill regional after making it all the way to the SEC Tournament title game last week in Hoover. LSU has one of the hottest offenses in the country entering this weekend. The Tigers’ pitching staff was also impressive for much of the weekend in Hoover.
Wofford’s top 2 pitchers this season, Zac Cowan and Camden Picker, threw 102 and 98 pitches, respectively, in the Terriers’ conference tournament on Sunday. Either would be a difficult test for LSU — especially Cowan — but their availability on 4 days rest for Friday is somewhat uncertain.
No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 3 Coastal Carolina | 12 p.m. ET | ESPN 2
Run line: Vanderbilt -1.5 (+114) | Coastal Carolina +1.5 (-145)
Money line: Vanderbilt -145 | Coastal Carolina +114
Vanderbilt earned the No. 2 seed in the Clemson regional and figures to be a dangerous opponent for the Tigers if it can get past Coastal Carolina. Fortunately for the Commodores, Coastal doesn’t appear to have a great option on the mound for this game. Its Friday night starter, Riley Eikhoff, posted an ERA of 5.30 in 15 starts this season. Vanderbilt has several starting pitchers it could turn to in this game, but it hasn’t yet announced who will get the nod.
No. 1 Texas A&M vs. No. 4 Grambling | 1 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Run line: Texas A&M -9.5 (+100) | Grambling +9.5 (-130)
Money line: Texas A&M -3500 | Grambling +1400
Texas A&M earned the No. 3 overall seed and is one of the top favorites to take home the College World Series title in Omaha next month. The Aggies will face Grambling in their opener — one of the biggest long-shots in the entire field. Grambling ranks 242nd nationally in Sonny Moore’s power ratings entering the NCAA Tournament.
No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Army | 1 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Run line: Georgia -5.5 (-105) | Army +5.5 (-125)
Money line: Georgia -720 | Army +450
Georgia has one of the top players in the country in Charlie Condon and played well enough this season to earn the right to host a regional. The Bulldogs haven’t won a NCAA regional since 2008, but are heavy favorites to snap that streak this weekend at the Athens Regional.
No. 2 South Carolina vs. No. 3 James Madison | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Run line: South Carolina -2.5 (+105) | James Madison +2.5 (-135)
Money line: South Carolina -230 | James Madison +175
South Carolina was heavily tested in the SEC throughout the 2024 season and should be a tough out in the Raleigh regional this weekend. While NC State is a slight favorite to come out of this region, the Gamecocks are actually the highest-ranked team in this region according to Sonny Moore’s power ratings. This is JMU’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2011.
No. 1 Arkansas vs. No. 4 Southeast Missouri State | 3 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Run line: N/A
Money line: Arkansas -810 | Southeast Missouri State +500
Arkansas is the No. 5 overall seed in this field and has perhaps the nation’s best starting pitcher in Hagen Smith. However, the Razorbacks will hold Smith back in Game 1 and go with Mason Molina (4.04 ERA) against Southeast Missouri State in the opener. Amongst SEC teams, only Texas A&M and Tennessee are bigger money line favorites on Friday than Arkansas is.
No. 2 Nebraska vs. No. 3 Florida | 3 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Run line: Florida -1.5 (+114) | Nebraska +1.5 (-145)
Money line: Nebraska +110 | Florida -140
Florida just snuck into the NCAA Tournament with an overall record just 1 game over .500 — the minimum to earn an at-large bid. The Gators have struggled on the mound all year, but have one of the nation’s best players in Jac Caglianone. They’ll now meet a Nebraska team that was consistently good this season, but might be a bit unproven coming out of the Big Ten.
No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 3 UCF | 6 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Run line: Alabama -1.5 (+110) | UCF +1.5 (-140)
Money line: Alabama -160 | UCF +124
Alabama was below .500 in SEC play this season but still had a good enough year overall to earn a No. 2 seed in the Tallahassee regional. Ben Vespi (4.44 ERA) has been UCF’s best starting pitcher this season and could get the nod on Friday night vs. the Tide.
No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 4 Northern Kentucky | 7 p.m. ET | SEC Network
Run line: Tennessee -7.5 (-115) | Northern Kentucky +7.5 (-115)
Money line: Tennessee -1450 | Northern Kentucky +750
Tennessee is coming off of a very impressive SEC Tournament title run last week. The Vols also split the regular-season SEC crown with Kentucky and are now the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Despite the long week in Hoover, the Vols did not push their key pitchers beyond their normal usage, meaning their staff should be well-rested for the Knoxville Regional. Tennessee is a massive favorite over Northern Kentucky on Friday evening.
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No. 2 Mississippi State vs. No. 3 St. John’s | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Run line: Mississippi State -4.5 (+114) | St. John’s +4.5 (-145)
Money line: Mississippi State -475 | St. John’s +325
Mississippi State is perhaps the most dangerous No. 2 seed in this field. The Bulldogs are +110 to win the Charlottesville Regional, just behind Virginia at -115. Khal Stephen, who owns a 3.38 ERA in 88 innings this year, has already been announced as the Game 1 starter for State. On paper, St. John’s is a good draw as a No. 3 seed for Mississippi State — the Red Storm rank 82nd nationally in Sonny Moore’s power ratings.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
