North Carolina College World Series Odds: Tar Heels Compete in Omaha

The college baseball world turns its attention to Omaha, where the 2024 College World Series begins June 14 with the eight teams in contention to capture the title. 

The North Carolina Tar Heels are one of those teams, ranked No. 7 in the final D1 college baseball poll. The Tar Heels (sometimes called the “Diamond Heels”) are one of the few teams left in pool play in Omaha at the CWS.

UNC Tar Heels College World Series Odds

SportsbookOddsOdds Ranking
DraftKings+600T-3rd
FanDuel+7004th
Caesars+6504th

The oddsmakers have the Tar Heels listed just below the top favorites entering CWS play in Omaha. The Tar Heels superb offense (NC is ranked in the top 12 in runs and OPS nationally) gives them a chance to beat any of the competition. Sportsbooks have them either 3rd or 4th based on odds.

The best NC sports betting apps, including DraftKings NC Sportsbook and FanDuel NC Sportsbook copy. Odds are also available from Caesars NC Sportsbook, where you can get the futures market for the College World Series, which includes several ACC teams.

The Tar Heel Lineup 

Led by two All-Americans, the Tar Heel lineup is formidable. Center fielder Vance Honeycutt and first baseman Parks Harber lead the lineup, with 26 and 20 home runs, respectively. 

Honeycutt is a candidate for ACC Player of the Year. Last season as a freshman, Honeycutt put up a great stat line of .296/.409/.672 with 25 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases. Last year he became the the first player in school history to have a 20-20 season (HR-SB), AND Honeycutt put up a second 20-20 season this year. He’s expected to be a top 20 pick in July’s MLB Draft.

The Tar Heels ranked 11th in NCAA D1 in runs scored, and boast other big bats in Harber (1076 OPS with 63 RBI in 58 games), and outfielders Casey Cook (.339 and 18 HR), and Anthony Donofrio (.338 with 52 RBI and 19 steals).

Tar Heel Pitching Staff

Head coach Scott Forbes has a pair of steady starters to choose from as he opens round-robin play: Jason DeCaro and Shea Sprague. If there’s a need for shutdown relief, that’s when the Heels can turn to southpaw Kyle Percival (opponents’ batting average of just .235). Sophomore lefthander Dalton Pence (8 saves) is the closer. 

Tar Heel College World Series Schedule

June 14-20: Group play in double-elimination format in the first round of the College World Series.

The team with the best record in round-robin play will advance to the CWS Finals. The finals are a best-of-three series.

AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker

About the Author

Amber Hoffman

Amber Hoffman is a former Managing Editor of NCSharp.com. A recovering attorney, she's spent almost a decade developing and managing websites and writing for a variety of industries. Amber married into a Red Sox family and has embraced the Sox ever since.