Jun 7, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels Harrison Lewis (39) cheers with his teammates in the dugout in the third inning against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the DI Baseball Super Regional at Boshamer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Camarati-USA TODAY Sports
- #4 North Carolina and #12 Virginia kick off the 2024 College World Series Friday afternoon
- Virginia took two of three from North Carolina during the season
- See the best North Carolina vs Virginia odds, picks, and predictions for Game 1 of the College World Series below
Just eight teams remain as the College World Series begins, and two top twelve teams in the country get the action started at 2 pm ET on Friday.
North Carolina (47-14) and Virginia (46-15) represent two of the four ACC teams that made it to Omaha, and like any conference foes, these two programs know each other well. They have played each other 88 times since 1997, and North Carolina leads the series slightly 45-43. The Tar Heels have struggled with Virginia lately though as they dropped two of three to the Cavaliers this season and have only won three of their last ten matchups.
Despite that, North Carolina is a slight favorite over Virginia in Game 1 of the College World Series. The winner of this game will play the winner of #1 Tennessee vs #8 Florida State.
North Carolina vs Virginia Odds
| Team | Runline | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Cavaliers | OFF | +105 | OFF |
| North Carolina Tar Heels | OFF | -135 | OFF |
With -135 odds, sportsbooks are giving North Carolina a 57.45% chance of winning Game 1. The Tar Heels opened as -140 favorites but have since moved to -135.
Odds as of June 13. Claim the best Fanatics promo code to get a bonus for the College World Series.
North Carolina vs Virginia Projected Starting Pitchers
Freshman Jason DeCaro is slated to take the mound for the Tar Heels on Friday. DeCaro faced Virginia’s lineup in Charlottesville back in April. He went six innings and allowed five earned runs on six hits. DeCaro also struck out five Cavaliers as Virginia went on to win 7-2. In the NCAA Tournament, DeCaro has made three appearances and has a 4.46 ERA over 12.1 innings. Despite being a freshman and just turning 18 years old in April, DeCaro has become a key part of the Tar Heels pitching staff.
Evan Blanco was Virginia’s pitcher against DeCaro in the regular season, and it appears the two will face each other again in the College World Series. Blanco pitched 6.1 innings of two-run ball and struck out seven on his way to earn the win against North Carolina. The sophomore right-hander has played well in his two NCAA Tournament starts this season. He has given up four earned runs in both of those outings, but he was able to eat innings as well. He went six innings in his regionals start then seven innings in his super regional start, and Virginia went on to win both games. Blanco has gone at least six innings in his last four starts.
Jason DeCaro vs Evan Blanco
| 6-1 | Record | 8-3 |
| 3.89 | ERA | 3.69 |
| 1.31 | WHIP | 1.28 |
| 85.2 | IP | 92.2 |
| 7.5 | K/9 | 9.2 |
North Carolina vs Virginia Predictions
North Carolina has gotten to this point by being a well-balanced team. The Tar Heels rank 11th in runs scored this season and 15th in team ERA. This led them to the ACC regular season title and propelled them to the #4 team in the country. They have gone 5-1 in the NCAA Tournament with their one loss being to the reigning National Champion LSU Tigers during regionals. Their offense is led by Vance Honeycutt who went 4 for 9 in super regionals with two home runs, one of which was a walk-off. Where North Carolina really separates itself though is through its bullpen. Closer Dalton Pence has allowed just three hits and no runs in his last nine innings of work.
Virginia finds itself back in Omaha for the third time in five years. The Cavaliers are a perfect 5-0 in the NCAA Tournament this year after sweeping the Charlottesville regional and super regional. They got here behind one of the best lineups in the country. Virginia ranks first in hits, second in batting average, fourth in runs, and eleventh in home runs. Their experience and offense make them a threat in Omaha, but North Carolina still has the edge.
This Tar Heels team has come a long way from when these two teams last faced each other. Omaha is a pitcher-friendly ballpark, which makes me believe even more in North Carolina’s ability to limit Virginia’s offensive production. This should be a close game that goes down to the wire, and I trust North Carolina’s bullpen much more than Virginia’s. The Tar Heels advance in Game 1 of the College World Series to face the winner of Tennessee and Florida State.
North Carolina vs Virginia Pick: North Carolina (-140)
It’s a rare occurrence when Zach is not talking about sports. He runs the social media accounts at SBD and specializes in betting on the NFL, CFB, CBB, and MLB. Zach graduated with a Master’s in Sports Journalism from St. Bonaventure University.