Pictured: Kentucky’s Nick Lopez. Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

Kentucky vs. Florida odds, prediction: Our pick for Tuesday’s CWS elimination game 6/18

Originally posted on Action Network | By Collin Wilson | Last updated Jun 18, 2024 7:28 AM ET

Four Southeastern Conference teams arrived in Omaha before the weekend. While the ACC will have just one team remaining, the SEC will send home its first member between Kentucky and Florida.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Bracket 2 elimination game, as the winner gets a heavily-injured Texas A&M squad for the chance to go to the championship series.

Florida last played a third game on the weekend during Regionals, electing to throw Pierce Coppola, who has made seven starts this season with a cumulative ERA of 9.16.

The 6-foot-8 sophomore may allow as many runs as innings pitched, but he tends to record a lot of strikeouts in his appearances.

Coppola pitched against Kentucky on May 10, going 2 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.

Kentucky vs. Florida Odds

Tuesday, June 18, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN

Kentucky Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
-1.5	TBA	-125

Florida Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
+1.5	TBA	-105

Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NCAAF odds here.

The biggest question for the Gators is the status of the bullpen, as shutdown closer Brandon Neely is up to 68 total pitches after tallying 45 in Monday's victory over NC State.

The Wildcats, meanwhile, will lick their wounds after a Monday night loss to Texas A&M. Now, Kentucky will look to win three consecutive games in as many days.

Dominic Niman has been a part of the rotation all season. He has started 16 games but hasn't lasted past the fourth inning since May 4.

Florida torched Niman on May 11, as he gave up six earned runs over four innings of work. The bullpen should be fresh, however, with closer Cameron O’Brien throwing just 28 pitches in Monday’s loss.

Kentucky vs. Florida

Betting Picks & Prediction

Kentucky projects at -140 with Niman on the mound against Coppola.

Considering both pitchers were rang up for numerous earned runs against these opposing lineups in early May, there's a chance for runs to finally show up in Omaha.

The wind may finally be a factor for the over, as lighter 10 mph winds moving from right to left field are expected to shift and blow out to left field around 7 p.m. ET.

The projected total for this combination of starting pitchers, bullpen and BaseRuns comes in at 12.6.