Wake Forest vs LSU Odds, Picks & Predictions for College World Series
By Robert Duff in College Baseball News
Updated: February 21, 2025 at 1:52 pm ESTPublished:
- The #1 seeded Wake Forest Demon Deacons are -165 favorites over the #5 LSU Tigers in their College World Series game on Monday, June 19
- Both schools won their opening-round games
- See the LSU vs Wake Forest odds and picks for Monday’s CWS game
In terms of College World Series history, the LSU Tigers (49-15) are miles ahead of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (53-10). LSU has won six CWS national titles, most recently in 2009. The Tigers have played in the CWS on 19 different occasions.
Wake Forest, meanwhile, is appearing in the event for the first time in 68 years. However, sports is very much a what have you done for me lately business. And of late – meaning the 2023 college baseball season – it’s the Demon Deacons who are set as the team to beat.
Wake Forest is the #1 seed in this year’s CWS. The Demon Deacons are also -150 favorites over the #5 Tigers in their CWS game on Monday, June 19.
LSU vs Wake Forest Odds
| Team | Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSU Tigers | +1.5 (-145) | O 10 (+100) | +120 |
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons | -1.5 (+115) | U 10 (-130) | -150 |
First pitch on Monday, June 19 at Charles Schwab Field is set for 7:00pm ET. ESPN is carrying all the CWS action.
Odds as of June 19 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Be sure to claim this DraftKings promo code to o get a great bonus on today’s College World Series game.
LSU vs Wake Forest Pitching Matchup
Both teams sent their staff aces – Paul Skenes for LSU and Rhett Lowder for Wake Forest – to the bump for their opening-round victories.
For this game, the Demon Deacons are handing the ball to left-hander Josh Hartle. He’s second on the team behind Lowder in innings pitched (96.1) and strikeouts (131) this season. In the Super Regionals against Alabama, Hartle allowed seven hits and four runs over six innings of works. He struck out 11 while issuing one walk. An All-ACC selection, Hartle is 11-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 2023.
LSU will be countering with right-hander Ty Floyd. He endured his struggles in the Super Regional matchup vs SEC rival Kentucky. Working just 3.1 innings, Floyd allowed seven hits and three runs. For the season he’s showing a perfect 7-0 record with a 4.50 ERA and 93 strikeouts over 78 innings pitched. However, LSU has lost three of Floyd’s last six starts.
Demon Deacons A Dominant Bunch
Wake Forest won that 1955 CWS and the Demon Deacons are favored to do so again. They needed two eighth-inning runs over overcome the #8 Stanford Cardinal 3-2 in their opening-round game.
That eighth inning magic!#MCWS x 🎥 ESPN / @WakeBaseball pic.twitter.com/yhw07tq1qX
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 17, 2023
It’s a balanced squad that wins it for Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons’ NCAA-best 2.82 team ERA is nearly a run better than any other school’s pitching staff. Offensively, they are fourth in the nation in on-base percentage (.431) and home runs per game (2.06) and third in runs scored (586).
Brock Wilken has slugged an NCAA-leading 31 homers, followed by Nick Kurtz with 24. Three other players are in double digits in dingers.
Tigers Are Deep In Talent
LSU’s offense is potent, to say the least. The Tigers are leading the NCAA in scoring with 594 runs. They’re second in on-base percentage (.437) and home runs per game (2.11).
Omaha nights, Tiger style.#MCWS x @LSUbaseball pic.twitter.com/6davUIKaX8
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 18, 2023
Individually, outfielder Dylan Crews is third in the nation with a .437 batting average and second in on-base percentage at .573. Tommy White leads with 22 homers and is among seven Tigers who’ve gone deep a minimum of 10 times.
LSU vs Wake Forest College World Series Pick
This could arguably be the best game of the tournament, even a preview of the CWS final. LSU was #1 in the preseason rankings until a midseason swoon saw the Tigers drop down the list. LSU put up six runs against the Tennessee Volunteers, who are #2 in the nation in ERA (3.62) behind the Demon Deacons.
Wake Forest isn’t likely to face a deeper, more talented lineup in the CWS than LSU. However, the Demon Deacons have answered all challenges in 2023 and remain #1 until some other school proves capable of knocking them off.
LSU vs Wake Forest Picks: Wake Forest Demon Deacons ML (-150)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
