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NCAA regionals breakdown: Betting lines, trends for Day 2 SEC games

Published: Jun 1, 2024 · 12:25 PM EDT

The NCAA Tournament began on Friday and it is back in action on Saturday.

A record-breaking 11 SEC teams are participating in NCAA regionals this weekend, with 5 programs hosting: Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Arkansas, and Georgia.

Below is a quick breakdown of each Saturday game involving an SEC team along with the latest betting odds for each Friday contest:

(Note: All times Eastern; all odds via bet365 unless otherwise noted)

2 Alabama vs. 3 Stetson | 12 p.m. | ESPN+

Run line: Alabama -3.5 (-130), Stetson +3.5 (+100)

Money line: Alabama -300, Stetson +225

The Crimson Tide are facing an elimination game after giving up a RBI single in the top of the ninth to lose 8-7 to UCF on Friday. Stetson out-hit the top-seeded Seminoles in their opening matchup, but 6 of the 9 were singles that did no damage. Stetson also committed 3 errors and only managed 2 runs in a 7-2 loss.

Stetson threw Dylan Jacobs (1-2 in 16 appearances) on Friday against Florida State. TJ Melani, Chris Shine, and Nick Durgin also saw time in relief. Aric McAtee (3-3, 4.48 ERA will start on the mound for Stetson. He last threw on May 26.

Alabama will throw Ben Hess to start.

2 Vanderbilt vs. 4 High Point | 12 p.m. | SEC Network

Run line: Vanderbilt -3.5 (+100), High Point + 3.5 (-130)

Money line: Vanderbilt -290, High Point +220

The Commodores gave up 5-run innings in the second and eighth on Friday in a 13-3 loss to Coastal Carolina, putting them into an elimination game right off the bat. They managed just 1 run on 4 total hits through the first 7 innings on Friday.

High Point lost 4-3 to the regional hosts, the Clemson Tigers. Clemson hit a 1-out, walk-off single to win. The Tigers hit decently well against High Point’s Gus Hughes, but stranded 11 base-runners throughout the game.

Brett Wozniak will start on the mound for High Point against the ‘Dores. He’s 8-2 in 14 starts this season with an ERA of 4.41 and an average of 4.7 strikeouts per 9 innings. Bryce Cunningham is scheduled to throw for Vandy.

1 Kentucky vs. 3 Illinois | 4 p.m. | ESPN+

Run line: Kentucky -2.5 (-120), Illinois +2.5 (-110)

Money line: Kentucky -270, Illinois +210

Illinois knocked off Indiana State on Friday, 4-1. The Illini added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth to win, but the victory was more about pitching and defense than it was anything on offense. Illinois had just 1 extra-base hit all day. Jack Crowder (7-2) lasted 8 innings giving up just 3 hits and 1 earned while striking out 5.

Kentucky beat Western Michigan 10-8 with consistent offense to start. The Wildcats plated at least 1 run in each of the game’s first 5 innings. That included a 4-spot in the third. Dominic Niman drew the start while Cameron O’Brien, Evan Byers, and Robert Hogan all pitched in the win.

Related: Kentucky residents… want to bet on the Wildcats during the postseason? Here’s all you need to know about the best Kentucky sports betting promos to get you started!

1 North Carolina vs. 2 LSU | 5 p.m. | ESPN2

Run line: North Carolina -1.5 (+110), LSU +1.5 (-140)

Money line: North Carolina -155, LSU +125

The top-seeded Tar Heels outlasted LIU on Friday in a game that featured 10 combined runs scored in the ninth inning. Carolina had a 5-4 lead going into the top of the ninth. LIU got a lead-off single then picked up 2 quick outs. A double tied the game at 5-5 before a 2-out, 3-run homerun gave LIU an 8-5 lead. North Carolina scored 1 back on a RBI single with the bases loaded. LIU then walked in another run. Gavin Gallaher ended the night with a 1-out, walk-off grand slam.

Jason DeCaro started for UNC on Friday, lasting 4 uninspiring innings. Matthew Matthijs, Dalton Pence, and Matt Poston all threw as well.

1 Tennessee vs. 3 Indiana | 6 p.m. | ESPNU

Run line: Tennessee -3.5 (-110), Indiana +3.5 (-120)

Money line: Tennessee -370, Indiana +270

The Volunteers beat Northern Kentucky 9-3 on Friday, though the Vols got off to a rocky start, giving up a leadoff home run and a double immediately after. Dylan Dreiling went 3-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBI. Dreiling, Billy Amick, and Hunter Ensley all homered for the Vols.

Indiana put 10 on the board against Southern Miss, getting after pitcher Billy Oldham. Oldham entered the matchup with a 7-2 record on the season but gave up 10 hits and 7 earned with just 1 strikeout in 3.2 innings of work before his day was called. The Hoosiers totaled 17 hits on the day.

Ty Bothwell threw 5.2 innings before Drew Buhr closed down the final 3.1.

Related: The Vols are one of the betting favorites to win the College World Series this season. If you want to place a bet on Tennessee, get signed up with one of the best TN sportsbook apps for a sign-up bonus today!

1 Georgia vs. 2 UNC Wilmington | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

Run line: Georgia -1.5 (-145), UNCW +1.5 (+115)

Money line: Georgia -240, UNCW +190

The Bulldogs never quite got comfortable in an 8-7 win over Army on Friday. Conversely, UNCW hammered Georgia Tech for an opening win.

RJ Sales pitched for the Seahawks, picking up his 11th win of the season by striking out 6 and giving up just 3 hits in a scoreless 7.1 innings of work. Luke Craig and Baker Cox closed things down without allowing a hit. UNCW hit for 4 runs in the second and then 5 in the eighth.

1 NC State vs. 2 South Carolina | 6 p.m. | ESPN+

Run line: NC State -1.5 (+145), South Carolina +1.5 (-180)

Money line: NC State -125, South Carolina -105

The Gamecocks defeated James Madison on Friday, 8-7, as 4 different players hit home runs. Eli Jones started on the mound before Ty Good and Chris Veach pitched the final 1.0 and 4.2 innings respectively. Good’s appearance was damaging, giving up 4 hits and 2 runs against 7 batters. Veach steadied the ship, though, striking out 4 and picking up his fifth win of the season.

NC State dominated Bryant in a 9-2 win. The Wolfpack out-hit Bryant 11-4. Sam Highfill went 6 innings giving up 4 hits and 2 earned to pick up his fifth win. Jacob Dudan threw 3 innings with 6 punchouts and no hits to earn his sixth save of the year.

1 Virginia vs. 2 Mississippi State | 6 p.m. | ACC Network

Run line: Virginia -1.5 (+100), Mississippi State +1.5 (-330)

Money line: Virginia -160, Mississippi State +130

The Cavaliers opened their regional with a 4-2 win over Penn. Joe Savino threw 5.2 innings to pick up his third win of the year. He struck out 8 of the 21 batters he faced along the way, giving up just 3 hits and 2 earned. Chase Hungate closed the final 3.1 with just a single hit allowed. Henry Godbout hit a 3-RBI homer in the bottom of the second to open the scoring.

Mississippi State needed extras to get past St. John’s, but Dakota Jordan delivered in the clutch with a 2-out, 3-RBI, walk-off home run to end the game. That shot was Jordan’s only hit of the night, and St. John’s had intentionally walked David Mershon before him to bring him to the plate.

1 Oklahoma State vs. 3 Florida | 7 p.m. | SEC Network

Run line: OSU -1.5 (-130), Florida +1.5 (+100)

Money line: OSU -210, Florida +165

Oklahoma State used 3 pitchers against Niagara, but it didn’t really matter what was happening on the mound for the Cowboys with how hot the bats were. OSU totaled 15 hits and collected 19 runs. They scored 3 in the first, 4 in the second, 4 in the third, and then added 3 more each in the fifth and sixth to just run away from Niagara. The Pokes had 9 extra-base hits, doing the bulk of their damage without bombing homers.

Runs were tougher to come by in the Florida-Nebraska game. The Gators gave NU pitcher Brett Sears his first loss of the season (9-0 entering the game). In 5 innings against Sears, UF collected 10 hits and 3 runs. They entered the eighth with a 3-2 lead and added insurance runs in both of the final 2 frames.

Sam Garcia started for Oklahoma State against Niagara, giving up 5 earned and 6 hits in 3.2 innings. Evan O’Toole earned his second win of the season for 4 innings of work with just 2 hits allowed and nothing earned.

1 Texas A&M vs. 3 Texas | 9 p.m. | ESPN

Run line: Texas A&M -2.5 (-120), Texas +2.5 (-110)

Money line: Texas A&M -270, Texas +210

The Aggies blasted Grambling 8-0 on Friday as Brad Rudis picked up his sixth win of the year. Three others threw at least 28 pitches, with Tanner Jones drawing the start and Eldridge Armstrong closing out the final 2.1 innings.

Texas scored 7 runs in the fifth to beat Louisiana 12-5. The Longhorns entered the top of the fifth with a narrow 3-2 edge before Jalin Flores cranked a grand slam over the left-field wall.

1 Arkansas vs. winner of 2 LA. Tech/3 Kansas St. | 9 p.m. | ESPNU

Run line: N/A

Money line: N/A

Arkansas beat Southeast Missouri State 17-9 in what was a wild game. Arkansas jumped out to an 8-0 lead after the first 2 innings only to watch it evaporate before the bottom of the fifth. But, with the help of 6 home runs, the Razorbacks regained their footing and put up 7 more runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

Mason Molina started on the mound but was replaced after 2.2 innings. Will McEntire went 1.2 innings before being replaced. Gabe Gaeckle steadied things with a 3-inning appearance that saw him strike out 6 batters and give up just 3 hits.

The Razorbacks are still awaiting their Day 2 opponent. Kansas State’s game against Louisiana Tech was delayed an hour at the start for weather Friday night, stalled again after 5 innings, and then eventually suspended just before midnight in the sixth. Kansas State led 9-4 at the time of the suspension. The game is scheduled to resume at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Derek Peterson

Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.