LSU pitcher Kade Anderson (32) during an NCAA College World Series baseball game on Saturday, June … More
LSU and Coastal Carolina will face off in the first game of the Men’s College World Series Finals tonight in Omaha, Nebraska. The two teams arrive at this moment riding very different narratives. LSU comes on the back of a stunning walk-off win against Arkansas. Coastal Carolina is riding a historic 26-game winning streak, the longest ever heading into the championship series. As the Tigers seek to reclaim past glory and the Chanticleers chase a perfect postseason run, this showdown promises a clash of resilience versus momentum on college baseball’s biggest stage.
LSU’s Road To College World Series Finals
LSU outfielder Chris Stanfield (1) celebrates a home run during an NCAA regional baseball game … More
The LSU Tigers baseball team is one of the most successful in the sport with seven championship seasons. The most recent World Series win came in 2023, and they have only lost in the finals only one time. Despite LSU’s relatively early exit from the SEC tournament, they won the Regional and Super Regional that they hosted in Baton Rogue. The Tigers are so far undefeated in Omaha, including two wins over Arkansas.
Coastal Carolina’s Road To College World Series Finals
Coastal Carolina pitcher Cameron Flukey (2) during an NCAA College World Series baseball game on … More
On the other side stands a very different challenger: Coastal Carolina, a program with only one prior national title, but a team currently riding a wave of unprecedented momentum. The Chanticleers have strung together a staggering 26-game win streak. This is the longest win streak heading into the Finals with the previous record being held by the 2009 LSU Tigers at 13 games. Coastal Carolina won the Conway Regional and swept Auburn in the Auburn Super Regional to make it to Omaha.
What To Watch For In College World Series Finals
MLB Prospects
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA – JULY 02: Caden Bodine #32 of Team USA celebrates with teammates after a … More
LSU’s Kade Anderson enters the series as a potential projected No. 1 overall pick, with multiple mock drafts listing him at or near the top. Coastal’s Caden Bodine, a switch-hitting catcher with elite contact skills and advanced pitch framing, is trending into the first round and could solidify that status with a strong showing. Fellow LSU pitcher Anthony Eyanson is also climbing draft boards, bringing a high-strikeout arsenal and plus slider that could push him into the competitive balance round.
Television Ratings
LSU celebrates a win against Arkansas 4-1 during an NCAA College World Series baseball game on … More
LSU’s dramatic walk-off win over Arkansas nearly broke viewership records. The game drew 1.91 million viewers, making it the fourth most-watched Men’s College World Series game ever (excluding Finals). That is significant, especially in a year where overall tournament viewership is down from its 2023 peak. For fans and broadcasters alike, LSU’s presence changes the stakes. The 2023 CWS Finals, which LSU won in a rout, delivered a record 3.59 million viewers. Expect that impact to be felt again this weekend.
Jell-O Shots
LSU is once again dominating Rocco’s Jell-O Shot Challenge, the off-field fan-fueled competition at Rocco’s Pizza & Cantina that’s become a quirky barometer of College World Series spirit. As of Saturday, LSU fans have purchased a staggering 33,218 Jell-O shots, nearly quadruple the next-closest competitor, Arkansas (8,905), and well ahead of Coastal Carolina (7,700). LSU’s overwhelming showing reflects the program’s national following, travel commitment, and cultural imprint on the MCWS.
Betting Odds For College World Series Finals
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – JUNE 18: A general view of Charles Scwab Field during a game between the LSU … More
LSU enters the College World Series Finals as the betting favorite over Coastal Carolina. For Game 1, the betting odds put the moneyline at -166 for LSU and +130 for Coastal, translating to an implied win probability of 62.4% for the Tigers. The gap widens over the full series: LSU is listed at -190, giving them a 65.5% implied chance to win it all, while Coastal Carolina’s +155 line suggests just a 39.2% shot at the title. Despite the odds, Coastal’s perfect postseason and LSU’s taxing semifinal path could make this matchup closer than the numbers suggest.
Legacies Clash In College World Series Finals
Whether this series ends in two games or three, it’s likely to be decided not just by talent, but by resilience, rest, and readiness. The betting markets favor LSU. The momentum favors Coastal. The finals of “the greatest show on dirt” kicks off at 7pm ET on ESPN.
