Betting college baseball futures two months before the Championship game can be risky business. It doesn’t matter how hot the team is now. The team needs to be playing their best ball in mid June. At +10000 NC State is a team that could peak in mid June during the College World Series National Championship and you should bet the Wolfpack right now.
NC State sweeping Clemson using just six pitchers is one of the most impressive things that I have seen this season. Would you like to know what is even more dangerous about that stat? Four of those six arms are underclassmen. Head Coach Elliott Avent also starts five Sophomores/Freshmen in his batting lineup.
Elliott Avent ball clubs always tend to figure it out as the season goes along. We saw the same thing happen with last year’s team that got red hot and played it’s way to the College World Series.
NC State is 30-12 this season. Back in February they suffered a 5-game losing streak (3 of them on a big stage in a Jacksonville tournament). Since February 28th this young team is a remarkable 27-5.
RESUME
I’ll start with some face value resume stats. NC State has won 6-of-7 ACC weekend series so far this season. This young team has also been relatively good on the road this season. They are 8-3 in true road games and 9-4 if you count neutrals (3 of the losses were in Feb).
Currently the Wolfpack have a Top 30 Strength of Schedule and are 23rd in the RPI. Pack9’s combined record of 15-7 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 teams. Add in 15 ACC wins with 9 conference games remaining NC State has a great shot to host a Regional in Raleigh.
PITCHING STAFF
NC State’s Team SIERA (3.38) and Strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.72) are both currently Top 20 in the nation. The Wolfpack may not have one of the country's best Aces but they have one of the best SP trios around. Dom Fritton, Ryan Marohn, and Heath Andrews are the identity of this Omaha caliber club.
Game 1 starter Dom Fritton was a starter on last year’s College World Series Wolfpack team. Fritton has made 37 career starts and is enjoying the best year of his career so far. The southpaw has a 3.60 ERA, with a career high 76 punchouts over 60 innings pitched with just 29 walks.
Ryan Marohn tossed the 3rd most innings and started 10 games for 2024’s NC State Omaha team. This year Marohn has lowered his opponent’s batting average by nearly 60 points and is getting more strikeouts.
Imagine a shopping cart that goes straight when you push it but the back right wheel is wobbly and won’t stay straight. That is Heath Andrews on this team. In his first four starts this season he pitched to a 2.45 ERA. It turned into a 8.65 ERA over his next five appearances.
But in his 10th start this past weekend against No. 2 Clemson, Andrews turned in his best start of the season. The RHP tossed 6 innings of 2 run ball while striking out nine and walking just one Tiger. Andrews recorded 3 more Ks than he ever had prior in his college career.
NC State’s bullpen is also deep. Plus it has the potential to get better/healthier in the final months of the season. Last year’s closer Derrick Smith has been nursing an injury this season and has only pitched 2.2 innings. Then, add in Shane Van Dam. He was a leverage reliever from last season that had Tommy John surgery but could return soon.
Nevertheless, Anderson Nance leads the bullpen with 43.2 IP. On Thursday against Clemson, Nance rung up 7 hitters in 4 innings. This season he has a 2.68 ERA and has sent down 45 via strikeout while only allowing 9 free passes.
The best ERA on the College World Series caliber pitching staff belongs to Andrew Shaffner (2.35). He has surrendered only eight runs in 30.2 IP with 34 K and 5 BB.
Jacob Dudan was a pivotal pitcher out of the pen during last season’s Omaha run. This season he has held the opposition to a .176 batting average and has punched 31 tickets in 20.1 IP.
BATTING LINEUP
NC State’s offense has patience and power which can be a dangerous combo. The Wolfpack are inside the country’s Top 50 teams when it comes to runs per game (8.4) and home runs per game (1.4). However it is the offense’s approach that is so impressive. Pack9 is striking out just 15.2% of the time (12th) and is walking in 14.1% of their plate appearances (20th).
On Selection Monday NC State may have five players with double digit home runs. Brayden Fraasman has already reached the benchmark while hitting .312 with a .940 OPS.
Chris McHugh has been one of the best First Basemen in the ACC. He leads the Wolfpack with a .374 batting average and 44 RBI to go along with his 1.029 OPS and 7 tanks.
Underclassmen speedsters Luke Nixon and Ty Head have set the table for most of this season. Head has batted leadoff in 12 straight games and has a .438 OBP during that span. Nixon leads the team with 14 stolen bases and 42 runs scored.
Lastly, the star of the group is Catcher Alex Sosa. The backstop is batting .301 with a 1.032 OPS, 9 homers, 36 runs, and 33 RBI. With perhaps the biggest prospect status of the group look for Sosa to step up after a poor Freshman postseason.
BETTING OUTLINE
Gun to my head would I pick NC State as my College World Series National Champion today? The answer is no. But the best strategy to make money in the NCAA Tournament on futures is to have a good portfolio.
I don’t often bet futures midseason unless it’s an unbeatable price like NC State is right now. +10000 on a balanced team that has a good chance of hosting? Yes please on every day that ends in “Y” and twice on Sunday. BetRivers currently has the Wolfpack priced as the 10th best team in the country. Circa, one of the most respected sportsbooks, currently has NCSU priced at +3000.
If North Carolina State receives a terrible draw or when the time comes and they are facing elimination there will be a time to hedge out if you'd like. Just bet the other team’s moneyline and make sure you at least profit from your midseason position. Here are the best Wolfpack prices on the market at the time of this writing:
Hard Rock: +10000 NC State To Win The College World Series National Championship
DraftKings: +9000 NC State To Win The College World Series National Championship
BetMGM: +8000 NC State To Win The College World Series National Championship
Good Luck To Those Who Tail This College World Series National Championship Future To Bet Right Now!
Betting college baseball futures two months before the Championship game can be risky business. It doesn’t matter how hot the team is now. The team needs to be playing their best ball in mid June. At +10000 NC State is a team that could peak in mid June during the College World Series National Championship and you should bet the Wolfpack right now.
NC State sweeping Clemson using just six pitchers is one of the most impressive things that I have seen this season. Would you like to know what is even more dangerous about that stat? Four of those six arms are underclassmen. Head Coach Elliott Avent also starts five Sophomores/Freshmen in his batting lineup.
Elliott Avent ball clubs always tend to figure it out as the season goes along. We saw the same thing happen with last year’s team that got red hot and played it’s way to the College World Series.
NC State is 30-12 this season. Back in February they suffered a 5-game losing streak (3 of them on a big stage in a Jacksonville tournament). Since February 28th this young team is a remarkable 27-5.
RESUME
I’ll start with some face value resume stats. NC State has won 6-of-7 ACC weekend series so far this season. This young team has also been relatively good on the road this season. They are 8-3 in true road games and 9-4 if you count neutrals (3 of the losses were in Feb).
Currently the Wolfpack have a Top 30 Strength of Schedule and are 23rd in the RPI. Pack9’s combined record of 15-7 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 teams. Add in 15 ACC wins with 9 conference games remaining NC State has a great shot to host a Regional in Raleigh.
PITCHING STAFF
NC State’s Team SIERA (3.38) and Strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.72) are both currently Top 20 in the nation. The Wolfpack may not have one of the country's best Aces but they have one of the best SP trios around. Dom Fritton, Ryan Marohn, and Heath Andrews are the identity of this Omaha caliber club.
Game 1 starter Dom Fritton was a starter on last year’s College World Series Wolfpack team. Fritton has made 37 career starts and is enjoying the best year of his career so far. The southpaw has a 3.60 ERA, with a career high 76 punchouts over 60 innings pitched with just 29 walks.
Ryan Marohn tossed the 3rd most innings and started 10 games for 2024’s NC State Omaha team. This year Marohn has lowered his opponent’s batting average by nearly 60 points and is getting more strikeouts.
Imagine a shopping cart that goes straight when you push it but the back right wheel is wobbly and won’t stay straight. That is Heath Andrews on this team. In his first four starts this season he pitched to a 2.45 ERA. It turned into a 8.65 ERA over his next five appearances.
But in his 10th start this past weekend against No. 2 Clemson, Andrews turned in his best start of the season. The RHP tossed 6 innings of 2 run ball while striking out nine and walking just one Tiger. Andrews recorded 3 more Ks than he ever had prior in his college career.
NC State’s bullpen is also deep. Plus it has the potential to get better/healthier in the final months of the season. Last year’s closer Derrick Smith has been nursing an injury this season and has only pitched 2.2 innings. Then, add in Shane Van Dam. He was a leverage reliever from last season that had Tommy John surgery but could return soon.
Nevertheless, Anderson Nance leads the bullpen with 43.2 IP. On Thursday against Clemson, Nance rung up 7 hitters in 4 innings. This season he has a 2.68 ERA and has sent down 45 via strikeout while only allowing 9 free passes.
The best ERA on the College World Series caliber pitching staff belongs to Andrew Shaffner (2.35). He has surrendered only eight runs in 30.2 IP with 34 K and 5 BB.
Jacob Dudan was a pivotal pitcher out of the pen during last season’s Omaha run. This season he has held the opposition to a .176 batting average and has punched 31 tickets in 20.1 IP.
BATTING LINEUP
NC State’s offense has patience and power which can be a dangerous combo. The Wolfpack are inside the country’s Top 50 teams when it comes to runs per game (8.4) and home runs per game (1.4). However it is the offense’s approach that is so impressive. Pack9 is striking out just 15.2% of the time (12th) and is walking in 14.1% of their plate appearances (20th).
On Selection Monday NC State may have five players with double digit home runs. Brayden Fraasman has already reached the benchmark while hitting .312 with a .940 OPS.
Chris McHugh has been one of the best First Basemen in the ACC. He leads the Wolfpack with a .374 batting average and 44 RBI to go along with his 1.029 OPS and 7 tanks.
Underclassmen speedsters Luke Nixon and Ty Head have set the table for most of this season. Head has batted leadoff in 12 straight games and has a .438 OBP during that span. Nixon leads the team with 14 stolen bases and 42 runs scored.
Lastly, the star of the group is Catcher Alex Sosa. The backstop is batting .301 with a 1.032 OPS, 9 homers, 36 runs, and 33 RBI. With perhaps the biggest prospect status of the group look for Sosa to step up after a poor Freshman postseason.
BETTING OUTLINE
Gun to my head would I pick NC State as my College World Series National Champion today? The answer is no. But the best strategy to make money in the NCAA Tournament on futures is to have a good portfolio.
I don’t often bet futures midseason unless it’s an unbeatable price like NC State is right now. +10000 on a balanced team that has a good chance of hosting? Yes please on every day that ends in “Y” and twice on Sunday. BetRivers currently has the Wolfpack priced as the 10th best team in the country. Circa, one of the most respected sportsbooks, currently has NCSU priced at +3000.
If North Carolina State receives a terrible draw or when the time comes and they are facing elimination there will be a time to hedge out if you'd like. Just bet the other team’s moneyline and make sure you at least profit from your midseason position. Here are the best Wolfpack prices on the market at the time of this writing:
Hard Rock: +10000 NC State To Win The College World Series National Championship
DraftKings: +9000 NC State To Win The College World Series National Championship
BetMGM: +8000 NC State To Win The College World Series National Championship
Good Luck To Those Who Tail This College World Series National Championship Future To Bet Right Now!
