Ole Miss’ selection into the field of 64 is a no-brainer for Vegas oddsmakers
OXFORD, Miss. — Now that the NCAA has selected its college baseball teams for the 2022 baseball tournament, we look to the real experts to further sort things out — folks whose livings depend on their collective foresight, knowledge and experience in such ventures. That’s right — the good folks in Vegas.
It turns out they disagree with the sports writers and analysts who told us Ole Miss wouldn’t make the tournament. Imagine that?
According to the consensus of the top oddsmakers in the world, it appears the Rebels — who seemingly barely made it in as the No. 3 seed in the Coral Gables, Florida Regional — couldn’t possibly have been in jeopardy of making the field of 64 as the “experts” all indicated.
Vegas actually opens with Ole Miss “ranked” in the Top 25 odds-wise, which is a far cry from where the NCAA would have us believe the Rebs landed. Of course the lines can and likely will change, but the point is the Rebels are held in much higher esteem by Vegas sportsbooks than they are sports writers.
CLICK HERE FOR THE CURRENT 2022 NCAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT ODDS
Now, true, the oddsmakers aren’t predicting a College World Series winner coming out of Oxford, as that pre-tourney honor goes to the Volunteers of Tennessee, but the Rebels are certainly in better stead in respect to 40 or so other teams playing this weekend.
Vegas also isn’t concerned with automatic qualifiers and “bid stealers.” They are simply giving the odds of who they think are the teams most likely to win the College World Series.
With the smaller odds representing the top favorites from a wagering standpoint, Tennessee opens at 4-to-1, while Oregon State ranks second with 9-to-1 odds to win the College World Series. Stanford is third at 12-to-1, while Texas comes in fourth at 15-to-1.
LSU and Virginia Tech are 5th at 18-to-1, Miami 7th at 20-to-1, and tied for 8th are Arkansas, A&M, Virginia and Oklahoma State at 25-to-1.
The Rebels open the week at 65-to-1 — odds that rank them 24th overall. No doubt their big finish raised their profile, ultimately giving them a shot at proving their worth on the field as an otherwise highly underrated team.
Rebels in Vegas' Opening Top 25 Betting Odds to Win CWS
1) Tennessee: 4-to-1
2) Oregon State: 9-to-1
3) Stanford: 12-to-1
4) Texas: 15-to-1.
5 ) (Tie) LSU and Virginia Tech: 18-to-1
7) Miami: 20-to-1
8) (Tie) Arkansas, A&M, Virginia and Oklahoma State: 25-to-1.
24) (Tie) Ole Miss, Oregon, Georgia, East Carolina: 65-to-1
2) Oregon State: 9-to-1
3) Stanford: 12-to-1
4) Texas: 15-to-1.
5 ) (Tie) LSU and Virginia Tech: 18-to-1
7) Miami: 20-to-1
8) (Tie) Arkansas, A&M, Virginia and Oklahoma State: 25-to-1.
24) (Tie) Ole Miss, Oregon, Georgia, East Carolina: 65-to-1
Of the 23 teams who have better odds than Ole Miss, 14 of them are hosting regionals and a 15th, East Carolina, opens at 65-to-1, as does Ole Miss. The outlier host, Georgia Southern, is going off at 200-to-1, a true long shot for a No. 1 seed.
So, You’re Saying There’s a Chance…
Basically what all this means is that while many believe Ole Miss was one of the “last four in” the postseason tourney, the Vegas experts disagree.
Ole Miss legend Tim Elko has thoughts on his team’s chances:
Don’t let the Rebs get hot… 🤫
— Tim Elko (@TimElko) May 30, 2022
You heard the man. pic.twitter.com/9JR9Yh4FBI
— Ole Miss Baseball (@OleMissBSB) May 9, 2022
Coral Gables Regional Teams and Schedule
Here’s the info on the Coral Gables Regional where the Rebels are the No. 3 seed:
No. 1 seed: Miami Hurricanes (39-18)
No. 2 seed: Arizona Wildcats (37-23)
No. 3 seed: Ole Miss Rebels (32-22)
No. 4 seed: Canisius Golden Griffins (29-23)
FRIDAY GAMES:
Game 1: Arizona vs. Ole Miss at 6:00 p.m. on ESPNU
Game 2 Miami vs. Canisius (ESPN+)
SATURDAY GAMES:
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
Game 4: Game 1 winners vs. Game 2 winner
SUNDAY GAMES:
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner
MONDAY GAMES (IF NECESSARY)
Game 7 (if needed): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser.
(Feature image credit: Reed Jones, Ole Miss)
David Walker
David Walker was named Louisiana’s High School Player of the Year at just 16 years old and, at 17, became college football’s first quarterback to earn Freshman of the Year honors. He remains the NCAA’s youngest-ever starting quarterback, a distinction that has stood for decades.
Transitioning from a wide-open high school offense to Emory Bellard’s renowned wishbone triple option, Walker excelled as a dual-threat quarterback. He graduated as Texas A&M’s all-time winningest quarterback and served as a two-time team captain, helping to transform a program that had endured 15 losing seasons in the previous 16 years.
After his playing career, Walker coached and taught algebra at six Texas high schools before moving into private business. In 2011, he published his memoir, “I’ll Tell You When You’re Good,” a title inspired by the coaching philosophy of Shannon Suarez, the Sulphur High and Louisiana High School Hall of Fame coach who was a significant influence on Walker’s life and career.
Walker’s compelling storytelling in his autobiography reflects the breadth of his experiences in high school and college football, and it is an undeniable fact that he saw more action than any athlete in the history of the NCAA. Since 2013, he has contributed to The Rebel Walk, sharing his insights and expertise with readers.
