SportsLine expert backs over in College World Series finale

The 2026 College World Series finals reach their conclusion on Monday with a winner-takes-all Game 3 between North Carolina and Oklahoma. Oklahoma secured the series opener, while North Carolina responded to win Game 2, setting the stage for the final match at 7 p.m. ET. SportsLine expert David Bearman, holding a strong seasonal record, predicts the over on the 9.5-run total for this decisive game.

Bearman’s analysis highlights the heavy reliance on bullpens expected in Game 3, noting that both starting aces pitched in Game 1, which saw 12 runs scored. In Game 2, Oklahoma’s offence was stifled only after early scoring by North Carolina’s Caden Glauber. FanDuel Sportsbook lists North Carolina as the money line favourite at -146, with Oklahoma at +114.

The over/under for total runs is set at 9.5, with the over priced at -113. Bearman, who holds an 82-59-4 record for the season and a 14-7 mark in the Regionals, anticipates heavy bullpen usage for both teams. He suggests Oklahoma’s bats will perform well against them, citing their strong hitting in Game 1 against North Carolina’s Jason DeCaro.

North Carolina has been a title favourite throughout the season, while Oklahoma has had a surprising run through the NCAA Tournament. In Game 2, Glauber prevented Oklahoma from scoring, marking the first time this had occurred since the SEC Tournament. Bearman’s reasoning cites that both starting aces pitched in Game 1 and that Game 2 saw early scoring before Glauber shut down Oklahoma’s offence.

The specific identity of the starting pitchers for Game 3 is not explicitly confirmed in the source, though Bearman references "both aces" for Game 1 and expects "mostly bullpens" for Game 3. Betting odds and expert predictions are speculative and subject to change prior to first pitch. The outcome of the match remains to be determined.