LSU vs. Arkansas Prediction (June 14, 2025) – Men’s College World Series
LSU and Arkansas meet Saturday night in a game that looks more like it’s a semifinal than an opener! Arkansas comes in at 48–13 with the highest team batting average in the field and a roster that hasn’t dropped one postseason game.
LSU is 48–15 and brings one of the strongest starting staffs in Omaha. They’re led by Kade Anderson, who is a likely top-3 pick with 163 strikeouts in 103 innings.
There’s no easing into the bracket with this game; one program gets a chance to be in control. The other? They end up in the loser’s bracket after a single game. No pressure or anything!
Keep scrolling to see all you need to know about this matchup, including team stats, how the pitchers compare, betting odds, and our picks for the best bets!
Game Details
- Matchup: LSU Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
- Date & Time: Saturday, June 14, at 7 p.m. ET
- Location: Charles Schwab Field, Omaha
- Broadcast: ESPN primetime coverage, SEC rivals headline opening night
- Format: Double-elimination bracket, winner gets strategic advantage
Team Snapshot
Arkansas hasn’t trailed in a postseason game and keeps producing at the plate without giving up much of anything defensively. LSU relies on high-strikeout arms and extra-base power to shift game outcomes. The teams have different styles but the same endgame, and here’s how they match up!
Arkansas Razorbacks (48–13)
The No. 3 seed has won five straight in the postseason, scoring early and avoiding high-leverage innings. They lead the field with a .313 team average and have limited defensive miscues across the bracket.
Key Players
- SS Wehiwa Aloy: .348, 20 HR, leads team in RBI
- LHP Zach Root: 8–5, consistent lefty with solid command
- OF Charles Davalan: .317, a key player at the top of the order
LSU Tigers (48–15)
LSU played its way through the loser’s bracket with back-to-back wins over North Carolina, and it was fueled by power hitting and high strikeout totals on the mound. They’ve hit nine home runs in five postseason games and held opponents to three runs or less than four of those.
Highlight Player
- LHP Kade Anderson – 10–1, 3.51 ERA, 163 K in 103 IP; among the top draft arms in the country
Pitching Matchup
LSU has the more explosive starter; Kade Anderson struck out 12 over seven scoreless innings in the Super Regional and hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start since mid-May. Arkansas is expected to counter with Zach Root, who gave up three runs across 5.1 innings in his last outing and hasn’t pitched into the seventh since April. If he falters in the first few innings, Arkansas will probably go to the bullpen by the fourth.
LSU Projected Starter: Kade Anderson (10–1, 3.51 ERA)
Anderson is on regular rest after throwing seven innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks in the Super Regional. He leads all remaining starters in strikeouts and has allowed only two earned runs over his last three outings. If LSU holds him, Anthony Eyanson (11–2, 2.74 ERA) is the likely Game 1 option; he’s more contact-heavy but tough to square up.
Arkansas Projected Starter: Zach Root (8–5, ~3.60 ERA)
Root doesn’t overpower hitters but locates well and changes speeds. He’s gone at least five innings in all of his last four starts. Arkansas may also use multiple relievers; seven different pitchers have logged postseason innings, and they’ve allowed only five total runs in those five games.
Key Storylines
These two have seen each other before, so they know what’s coming. The starters, depth, game management, and late-inning execution all play a part.
- Season Series: LSU took 2 of 3 from Arkansas in March, including a 9–2 win in Game 3. Anderson pitched five shutout innings in that series.
- Postseason Form: Arkansas is 5–0 this postseason and has allowed just six total runs. LSU has scored 38 over its last five games and hit nine home runs during that stretch.
- Bullpen Usage: Arkansas has used seven different relievers in the postseason, with none throwing more than 3.1 innings. LSU’s bullpen has covered 17.2 innings over five games with a 1.52 ERA, most of that behind Eyanson and two late-game arms.
Betting Odds
Pricing is tight! There is very little separation between sides, and the books aren’t leaning heavily one way or the other, and the totals suggest a moderate scoring range. Here are the latest odds and lines according to ESPN BET:
| Team | Run Line | Moneyline | Total Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
Arkansas | +1.5 (-190) | -120 | Over 9.5 (-115) |
LSU | -1.5 (+135) | -115 | Under 9.5 (-115) |
Any late shift will likely come down to confirmed starters. As of now, it looks like it is one of the most evenly matched games on the Day 1 slate.
Best Bets
Ready for what we are looking at in terms of value? Look below for our two best bets and a prop!
- LSU Moneyline (–115) ⭐⭐⭐ | LSU took the regular-season series and is starting the more reliable arm. Anderson’s strikeout rate and command give LSU a real advantage during the first two turns through the order.
- Total: Over 10 Runs | LSU is averaging 7.6 runs per game this postseason. Arkansas hasn’t scored less than five since May 24. Both lineups have power and more than enough plate discipline to stretch pitch counts.
- Prop: Kade Anderson Over 7.5 Strikeouts | Anderson has recorded 9+ strikeouts in three of his last four starts. Arkansas hitters have struck out 23 times over their last two games, and this particular matchup favors Anderson’s approach.
Our Prediction & Final Thoughts
Final Score Prediction: LSU 5, Arkansas 4
LSU gets five solid innings from Anderson, scratches across a run in the seventh, and closes it out with two clean relief frames. Arkansas puts runners on late but can’t break through.
Arkansas has looked really good in the postseason, but they haven’t had to deal with an arm like Anderson. LSU has already beaten them twice this year and comes in with a better rotation setup for a game like this; they have clear roles, defined matchups, and more swing-and-miss potential.
Arkansas brings better contact numbers, but LSU can change a game with a single at-bat. If Anderson gives them a strong five or six, and Eyanson gets the ball after that? It’s a formula that’s worked across multiple elimination games.
This probably won’t be a runaway win. But if it turns into a bullpen game? LSU definitely has the arms to end it.
