2021 College World Series preview: Texas vs. Mississippi State betting odds, picks, analysis, more

(Mississippi State Athletics)

Here are the resources you need for Texas vs. Mississippi State on June 20 at the 2021 College World Series.

Texas vs. Mississippi State betting odds (via DraftKings)

Run Line: Mississippi State +1.5 (-135), Texas -1.5 (+115)

Over/Under: 9

Moneyline: Mississippi State +125, Texas -145

Projected starting pitchers

Texas: Ty Madden (R) 100.2 IP, 7-4, 2.41 ERA, 1.10 base runners/inning, 11% free pass rate, 30% K

Mississippi State: Will Bednar (R) 74 IP, 7-1, 3.53 ERA, 1.27 base runners allowed/inning, 9% free passes, 37% K 

Texas' road to Omaha

Record: 47-15

RPI: 5 (No. 28 strength of schedule)

League finish: Tied for first in the Big 12.

Coach: David Pierce (169-82 in his fifth year at Texas, 366-201 in 10 years)

CWS appearance: 37th

National titles: 1949, 1950, 1975, 1983, 2002, 2005

Texas has history on its side.

The Longhorns are making their NCAA-leading 37^th appearance at the College World Series. Texas has won six national championships and has finished runner up six more times.

Texas also hopes to learn from three early season losses at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Park in Arlington. One of those three losses came to Mississippi State in the season opener. 

MSU jumped out to a 5-0 lead and handed UT an 8-3 loss. It was Texas’ ace Ty Madden’s worst outing of the season. He was touched for four runs and four hits in four innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

Texas won 14 of its next 16 games to improve to 14-5 through the first weekend of Big 12 play. Texas had a 16-game winning streak from April 1-24. The Longhorns won all but one Big 12 series and then lost to West Virginia and Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Tournament.

Texas has breezed through the post season with five straight wins. Four of those wins have come against No. 3 or No. 4 seeds in the tournament.

Read our in-depth College World Series preview for Texas at this link.

Mississippi State's road to Omaha

Record: 45-16

RPI: 6 (No. 8 strength of schedule)

League finish: second (SEC West)

Coach: Chris Lemonis (109-35 in 3 yrs. at MSU, 250-126-2 overall)

CWS appearance: 12th

National titles: none

Mississippi State will be making its 12th overall appearance at the College World Series. The Bulldogs have reached Omaha in six different decades.

But one thing has eluded one of the SEC’s top programs: The Bulldogs have never won the national championship. They’ve been close; MSU finished runner up to UCLA in 2013 and finished third in 1985.

The 1985 season still haunts the Bulldogs. MSU was cruising to a win over Texas and a berth in the championship game, before pitcher Gene Morgan was struck with a line drive and knocked him out of the game. State eventually lost that game and then lost on a walk-off grand slam the next day to Miami.

Mississippi State will get a shot at redemption as they face Texas on Sunday. This is the first post season meeting since the 1985 CWS. Texas also eliminated MSU from the 1983 NCAA Tournament.

Will this be the year to reverse the curse and win that elusive trophy?

Read our in-depth College World Series preview for Mississippi State at this link.

Southeastern 14's Game Pick for Texas vs. Mississippi State

This is a great matchup and the toughest to pick of the first four games. There is good history and tradition with both programs, but we're giving the edge to Texas for two reasons - the Longhorns' starting pitching and the lineup. They aren't significant edges, but they could be enough to give Texas the win.

Pick: Texas

Southeastern 14's Best Bet for Texas vs. Mississippi State

Pick: Under 9

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