The state of Texas is very rich in baseball history and tradition from the high school ranks, college to Major League Baseball. The University of Texas is tied for 2nd place all-time in National Championships with six. The state of Texas has the sixth most players in the MLB Hall of Fame with 16 from Ernie Banks, Eddie Matthews, Frank Robinson, Joe Morgan, Nolan Ryan and most recent Greg Maddux. That also includes three players from the Negro League: Louis Santop, Biz Mackey & Andy Cooper. There’s nothing we here at DDSN love more than to showcase the Lone Star State and its baseball will be no different. There are great college baseball teams to cover, discuss and highlight. This series may need to be daily and then recap along the way because we don’t want to miss anything. We will also be covering the rest of the country and sharing analysis and wagering insight to help those that also bet college baseball like we do. The Texas series will be more in depth and then we’ll go over the best betting opportunities from across the country. Hopefully yall enjoy the coverage!

(Betting lines via Draft Kings Sports Book: $100 = 1 unit)

College Baseball record: 7-8 (+0.21 units)

College Baseball in Texas Recaps:

• FINAL: Kansas State Wildcats 3 vs. Lamar Cardinals 4

The Lamar Cardinals hand K-State its first loss of the season as they improve to 5-0 on the early season. Lamar jumped on the Wildcats pitching early with two runs in the 3rd and 4th innings and that was all they needed. It was definitely a team effort in this one from the bats to the pitching. Kanin Dodge was 2/2 with 2 BB but it was the middle of the lineup that got on base and brought in the runs. Kansas State’s Raphael Pelletier was 3/4 with 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 R & 2 RBI but it wasn’t enough. Lamar cashed the upset win for us!

• FINAL: Houston Cougars 2 vs. UTSA Roadrunners 12

The UTSA Roadrunners absolutely exploded on the Houston Cougars and run-ruled them in the 7th inning. Just dominant and UTSA did not hit one home run to do it either. Matt King from Kingwood, TX led the way going 3/5 with 1 3B, 3 R & 3 RBI. We cannot forget about freshman Tye Odom from Bishop, TX who went 2/3 with 1 2B & 3 RBI. Might as well mention senior Antonio Valdez from Corpus Christi, TX who went 2/4 with 1 SB, 3 R & 1 RBI. Like we previously discussed, UTSA is on its revenge tour and this is only the beginning.

• FINAL: Oklahoma Sooners 3 vs. Abilene Christian Wildcats 4 (10 Innings)

This was by far the best game Wednesday night. It had everything. The drama of a diving catch from the Sooners’ CF holding on by the tip of his glove to save multiple runs. There was an RBI double by Oklahoma to tie the game after a play at the plate. Then, on the same play ACU threw out the batter sliding into second base that may have saved the game for them. Finally, ACU slapped a game winning hit up the middle and all was right in Arlington, TX. Miller Ladusau from Heath, TX, Jake Skaggs and Maddox Miesse from Adkins, TX each had two hits in the game. Miesse had 3 RBI and the most important one of them all walking off the Sooners with the upset cashing nice underdog tickets for us. ACU is for real and the Wildcats have a light schedule coming up. Watch out.

• FINAL: Sam Houston State Bearkats 1 vs. Rice Owls 3

Rice secured the win after the Bearkats batting the bases loaded in the 9th inning. The Rice pitching staff was the MVP in this game holding the electric SHSU offense to only 1 run. It all started with SP Mauricio Rodriguez who pitched 3.1 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts to begin the game. Guy Garibay Jr. from LaMarque, TX hit a home run bringing in two runs. The bullpen did the rest and shut the door on the Kats. Rice has a huge three game series with #13 Stanford Cardinal coming up.

College Baseball in Texas Previews & Handicaps:

• 2/24/23: Baylor Bears (-105) vs. Duke Blue Devils (-125); total 10.5; 3:00pm ct

Baylor will be travelling for the first time this season visiting the Blue Devils in Durham, NC. Fun stat: Baylor only leaves the state of Texas three times this season and this is one of them. Baylor will be starting RHP Blake Helton (0-0, 5.40 ERA) from Austin, TX making his second start of the season. Helton pitched 3.1 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks & 4 strikeouts in the season opener against Central Michigan. The offense is led by Kolby Branch from Lucas, TX who is batting .444 AVG, 2 2B, 1 HR & 9 RBI to start the season. The Baylor offense goes when Kolby does. In both of Baylor’s losses Branch has a total of 1 hit total. Duke will be starting LHP Jonathan Santucci (1-0, 0.00 ERA) who threw 4 scoreless innings with 9 strikeouts against Saint Joseph’s. The Bears blowout loss to CMU was against a left handed pitcher. Duke has strong pitching that are 9th in the nation in strikeouts. They also have some powerful bats starting with MJ Metz .444/.688/.889 (AVG/OBP/SLG) and Damon Lux .308/.444/.692. I like Duke’s pitching and offense here, which looks like it may be a tad stronger than Baylor’s currently.

Pick: Duke (-125); $100 bet to win $80

• 2/24/23: Rice Owls (+300) vs. #13 Stanford Cardinal (-400); total 10; 4:00pm ct

The Rice Owls with be starting RHP Parker Smith (0-0, 4.50 ERA) from Houston, TX against Stanford’s Quinn Mathews (0-1, 3.60 ERA). Stanford has a strong offense led by top prospect SS Tommy Troy who has gone against some stout competition to begin the season. The Cardinal as huge favorites here should come as no surprise. It is hard to believe the Rice offense will be able to match the explosive offense of Stanford but that’s why they play the game. This is definitely a pass for me with the huge price on Stanford and I do not see an upset tomorrow. We will recap for tomorrow and see if there is an edge on the total or maybe a Rice upset. We need more information and data first.

Pick: NA

• 2/24/23: Portland Pilots (+195) vs. #10 Texas A&M Aggies (-240); total 10.5; 6:00pm ct

It’s no secret we have been very critical of the Aggies at the start of this young season. Texas A&M is coming off an upset loss to the Lamar Cardinals at home. The Aggies offense has struggled so far, which a department the Pilots have yet to have any issues with. If we played blind resume here you would never guess that its the Pilots that are third in the country in batting average, ninth in total hits, seventh in slugging percentage, 13th in home runs, 13th in on-base percentage and 16th in runs per game. Surprise! The Aggies will start RHP Nathan Detmer (0-0, 0.00 ERA) from San Antonio, TX who pitched 4.2 shutout innings in the first game of the season as the Aggies’ lone bright spot. Portland will start RHP Joey Gartrell (1-0, 3.60 ERA) who will look to have success against the struggling Aggies. We have a juicy number for the Pilots but it’s tough to go against A&M ace Detmer. This is still a step up in competition for the Pilots but if this series play out the way I think it will it would be advantageous to play Portland as big dogs all three games and try to win 2/3.

Pick: Portland (+195); $100 bet to win $195

• 2/24/23: Sam Houston State Bearkats (+105) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (-135); total 10.5; 6:00pm ct

What we know because there is not any information on this game. This is the 2nd game in the Karbach Round Rock Classic being played in Dell Diamond Stadium in Round Rock, TX. The Iowa Hawkeyes come into this game (3-0) to face the surging powerful offense of the Bearkats from Sam Houston State. I’ll play SHSU here due to Iowa playing LSU next so they may look past this Bearkats team with their eyes set on facing #1 LSU. We get a plus price with SHSU with upset on their minds playing with the big boys.

Pick: Sam Houston State (+105); $100 bet to win $105

• 2/24/23: Indiana Hoosiers (+235) vs. Texas Longhorns (-300); total 10.5; 6:30pm ct

Texas will be hosting Indiana in a 3 game series this weekend at Disch-Falk Field. These Hoosiers should not be taken lightly after playing Auburn tough opening weekend. Texas will be starting ace LHP Lucas Gordon (0-0, 0.00 ERA) and I do not see him stumbling at home. This kid is nails. Indiana will start LHP Ben Seiler (0-1, 11.57 ERA) who got roughed up against Auburn. I wouldn’t compare the Longhorn offense to the Tigers’ but Seiler may be in trouble again. Look for Dylan Campbell from Houston, TX to get on base and cause some havoc. Campbell leads the team with 3 SB and a .471 OBP (on base %). Price is too steep to play the Longhorns. Lucas Gordon is as good as advertised. I like under because of Gordon but UT could get 11 runs on their own with Seiler on the mound. The over sounds great but again, Gordon is on the mound so its a pass.

Pick: NA

• 2/24/23: Florida State Seminoles (-105) vs. #5 TCU Horned Frogs (-125); total 9.5; 6:30pm ct

TCU comes into this game as one of the most battle tested after defeating Vanderbilt, Arkansas and losing to Missouri by 1 run in extra innings. The Seminoles will be marching into Fort Worth with their (4-0) record looking to win and crack the DDSN 24 Pack. This is the series of the weekend by far. Florida State will be starting sophomore RHP Jackson Baumeister (0-0, 2.25 ERA) who allowed 1 earned run in 4 innings, striking out 5 against James Madison. TCU will start the battle tested 6’6” RHP Ryan Vanderhei (0-0, 5.40 ERA) who we faded against Vanderbilt due to him not being accustomed to the starter role. The Florida State offense ranks 16th in the country in runs scored and is led by Jordan Carrion batting .625/.647/1.000 who couldn’t be any hotter. The Horned Frogs say, “not so fast” because they have an offense that can compete with anyone. TCU is led by top prospect Brayden Taylor batting .529/.636/.765 and Elijah Nunez Jr. from Arlington, TX who is hitting .500/.647/.583 with 6 RBI and 2 SB. The total on the game is not posted yet but that’s where I lean with these offenses. I like TCU in the opening game if Vanderhei could give them a couple strong innings. Will wait for the totals to be posted.

Pick: Over 9.5 runs (-115); $100 bet to win $86.96

Other highlighted games:

NA

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