2021 College World Series finals Game 2 preview: Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt betting odds, picks, analysis, more

(MSU Athletics)

Here are the resources you need for Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt on June 29 in Game 2 of the 2021 College World Series finals.

Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt betting odds

Run line: Vanderbilt -1.5 (+115), Mississippi State +1.5 (-135)

Over/Under: 9

Moneyline: Vanderbilt -135, Mississippi State (+115)

Projected starting pitchers

Mississippi State: TBA

Vanderbilt: TBA

Mississippi State Analysis

The Mississippi State bullpen turned in 8 1/3 innings in Monday's loss and at one point retired 13 straight batters.

The Bulldogs have the fewest strikeouts of any team in the SEC but have at least nine strikeouts in all four games against Vanderbilt this season.

Mississippi State has not made an error in five CWS games, while Vanderbilt played its first errorless game on Monday.

The Bulldogs have hit into six double plays. Vanderbilt turned one double play in Monday's game.

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

Vanderbilt Analysis 

Vanderbilt is coming off its best offensive performance at the 2021 College World Series.

The Commodores rode a 7-run first inning to an 8-2 win over MSU on Monday night. CJ Rodriguez and Jayson Gonzalez delivered the big blows in the inning, as Rodriguez had a 2-run single and Gonzalez capped the inning with a 3-run home run.

Jack Leiter and Nick Maldonado held MSU to two runs and five hits and fanned 12 batters.

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

Southeastern 14's Game 2 Pick for Mississippi State vs. Vanderbilt 

Vanderbilt is expected to send Patrick Reilly (15 G, 7 GS, 4-2, 4.89 ERA) or Christian Little (13 G, 10 GS, 3-1, 3.67 ERA) to the mound for game two.  Reilly has not pitched since the Nashville Regional Final against Georgia Tech (4.2 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) on June 6. Little last started in the CWS elimination game against Stanford (3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) on June 23. He was the victim of three Vandy errors in the game.

Mississippi State could send Houston Harding (20 G, 7 GS, 7-2, 3.10 ERA) to the mound. He made one start at the College World Series against Texas (4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) on Friday, June 25. Texas won the game 8-5 after a nearly three-hour rain delay in the ninth inning.

Reilly and Harding both pitched in the series finale in Nashville on April 25, and neither fared well. Reilly started in the mound for the Commodores (0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K) and did not get out of the first inning. Harding (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) came into the game in relief in the fifth inning as the Commodores rallied from a 4-0 deficit to earn a 7-4 win. 

Little has not faced Mississippi State this season.

The winning team has scored 6 plus runs in four previous meetings between these two teams.

Without knowing the pitching matchup, this is essentially a toss-up, but we'll pick the Bulldogs to force a Game 3. 

Pick: Mississippi State

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

Pick: Over 9

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