It’s hard to believe, but we’re already nearing the end of the College Baseball season. We’re in the final week of the regular season, with conference tournaments starting as early as Sunday. From there, the best of the best will be entered into the College World Series, looking to capture this year’s National Championship.
The tournament starts with the best 64 teams in the country, with the field getting whittled down to 16 teams in the best-of-3 Super Regionals. From there, the remaining eight teams get sorted into double-elimination brackets, with the top two teams standing toe-to-toe in the College World Series best-of-3 series.
We’ve got the latest data from BetMGM, and we’re evaluating which teams have the best chance at claiming this year’s title!
Big Movers Up the Futures Board
College sports, baseball in particular, always sees some of the most unexpected results year-over-year. This season is no exception, with several teams overachieving relative to preseason prognostication, by a substantive margin. As expected, that has exposed BetMGM on several fronts, resulting in a dramatic odds shift ahead of the postseason.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Undoubtedly, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets saw the most prominent move up the futures board. Starting the year as +5000 longshots, Georgia Tech ends the regular season as the third-ranked team in the country and one of the frontrunners at +600. The betting market was quick to jump on the Yellow Jackets, generating the fifth-highest ticket count (5.6%) and sixth-highest handle (6.1%). Considering their position, the sportsbook could be actively rooting against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the playdowns.
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins were always expected to compete in 2026; however, sportsbooks may have underestimated the Bruins’ chances of winning it all. Formerly a mid-range +1300 option, UCLA is currently priced as the odds-on favorite to claim this year’s National Championship. On the strength of 11.8% of the betting handle, the Big Ten competitors have been moved to +550 to win it all.
Mississippi State Bulldogs
Like the aforementioned Yellow Jackets, the Mississippi State Bulldogs have emerged as a top contender, a position that wasn’t expected at the start of the season. While their betting splits are less pronounced, the Bulldogs have moved from +3500 to +1000 at the end of the regular season. Still, with their 4.7% handle outpacing their 4.1% ticket count, several sharp bettors had the wherewithal to get a piece of the Bulldogs before their stock peaked.
Texas Longhorns
Finally, the Texas Longhorns have captured the hearts of the top bettors and emerged as one of BetMGM’s biggest liabilities. The sixth-ranked SEC squad has generated the highest ticket count and handle, coming in at 10.8% and 14.0%, respectively. While they have to run a playoff gauntlet against some of the top teams in the conference, Texas will have a more unimpeded path to the College World Series. Texas is currently installed as a +900 contender, but we should see that price continue to drop from its +2000 opening line.
The Fight-less LSU Tigers
At the start of the season, the LSU Tigers were viewed as one of the premier teams in the country. Priced as the chalky +700 favorites to win the College World Series, the LSU Tigers have plummeted to +5000 ahead of the SEC Tournament. Despite their ineffectiveness, the Tigers still collected a staggering 8.7% ticket count and 9.9% handle, ranking third among all college teams. The defending champs set a new low in 2026, dropping a record 19th game in conference play. A path to the College World series seems unlikely, leaving bettors looking for alternate value to recuperate their losses.
Longshots Worth Monitoring
Auburn Tigers
They may not be the longest odds on the board, but plenty of sharp bettors have sought refuge on another SEC team. The Auburn Tigers sit +1600 on the futures board, but have collected an impressive 4.2% handle, standing in contrast to their 2.1% ticket count. There is a lot to like about Auburn this season, and big money bettors have taken a chance on the Tigers to go on a run.
Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners aren’t the top team in the SEC, but they have still commanded a heftier-than-expected part of the betting market. The 31-19 Sooners sit 13-15 in conference play, and will have to knock off some of the top teams in the country to go on an extended playoff run. Still, their 2.4% handle and 1.2% ticket count imply that many sharp minds like their chances of surprising everyone in crunch time. Holding steady at +6600, Oklahoma is the dark horse worth backing ahead of the playoffs.
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