The Florida Gators and LSU Tigers each have a chance to clinch a national title on Monday. The SEC powers square off in Game 3 of the 2023 College World Series Finals in Omaha. Charles Schwab Field hosts the winner-take-all matchup under the lights, with LSU looking to bounce back from a 24-4 loss on Saturday. Florida's explosion kept the Gators alive after a Game 1 loss, and the stakes couldn't be higher for Game 3.
Caesars Sportsbook lists the Tigers as the -150 favorites (risk $150 to win $100) on the money line, while the over/under, or total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, is 9.5 in the latest Florida vs. LSU odds. Before locking in any 2023 College World Series picks, be sure to check out the CWS predictions from SportsLine's Allan Bell.
Bell is on an impressive run picking college baseball games for SportsLine. He went 56% throughout the 2022 college baseball postseason, including a +1200 futures hit on Ole Miss winning the national championship. He is 33-18 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, a 65% winning clip. Anybody following him has seen huge returns.
Now, Bell has set his sights on LSU vs. Florida and just locked in his picks and CWS predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Bell's picks. Here are several college baseball betting lines for Florida vs. LSU:
LSU vs. Florida money line: LSU -150, Florida +120LSU vs. Florida run line: LSU -1.5 (+115)LSU vs. Florida over/under: 9.5LSU vs. Florida picks: See picks at SportsLineWhy you should back Florida
Florida doesn't have the same level of ace up its sleeve as LSU might with Paul Skenes, but the Gators showcased their depth and upside in Game 2. The Gators exploded for 24 runs, making College World Series history in the process, and Florida's sluggers are up for the challenge. Projected top-five pick Wyatt Langford is Florida's centerpiece, producing a .373/.498/.777 slash line this season and going 5-5 with six runs batted in and three extra-base hits in the win on Saturday.
He is flanked by Jac Caglianone, who belted two runs in Game 2 to bring his total to 33 on the season. Caglianone has a .746 slugging percentage, and he is also a top-flight pitcher for Florida. Eight members of Florida's lineup picked up at least two hits on Saturday and, as of the end of Game 2, six players in the lineup have a slugging percentage of at least .544 for the season. With the Gators also bringing pitching and defensive pedigree to the table, they are difficult to beat. See which side to back here.
Why you should back LSU
LSU hit a speed bump in Game 2 but, fortunately for the Tigers, the 20-run loss only counts once. The Tigers also have a potential X-factor for Game 3 in 21-year-old hurler Skenes. He is the best pitcher in the country this season and, while LSU has not revealed its plan for the winner-take-all matchup, Skenes could be part of the mix. He threw eight shutout innings in his last start against Wake Forest, yielding only two hits and one walk with nine strikeouts. For the season, Skenes has a 1.69 ERA across 122.2 innings, producing 209 strikeouts and only 20 walks.
From there, LSU's lineup is potent, leading the SEC in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and home runs entering this weekend. The Tigers also averaged nearly nine runs per game this season and, while Florida has sluggers on its side, LSU has no shortage of offensive talent. Outfielder Dylan Crews is a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, and he had two hits in Game 2. That brought his season-long slash line to .421/.564/.706 in 2023, and Tommy White leads the team in total bases with a .726 slugging percentage this season. See which side to back here.
How to make LSU vs. Florida CWS picks
Bell has evaluated this matchup from every angle and locked in a pair of best bets, including a strong play on the money line. See what it is over at SportsLine.
What are the best bets for LSU vs. Florida in the College World Series Finals on Monday? Visit SportsLine to find out, all from the expert who is on a 33-18 roll on college baseball picks.
