As the race to mobile North Carolina sports betting heats up this week, the state's collegiate baseball depth is on full display, with a record 8 schools qualifying for the NCAA Baseball Tournament that begins this Friday.
No. 1 overall seed Wake Forest leads the way, and is joined by North Carolina, NC State. UNC Wilmington, Duke, East Carolina, Charlotte and Campbell on the road to Omaha for the College World Series.
With a little time to kill before more legislation news, BetCarolina took a look at the oddsboard for each program and broke down how they can make a run to the history books.
Keep it here for more sports betting analysis so you're ready for the incoming arrival of North Carolina betting apps next year.
Demon Deacons Open As DraftKings Favorite
To the surprise of no one, the 45-9 Wake Forest Demon Deacons opened as the title favorites at DraftKings Sportsbook at +500, ahead of LSU (+800) and Florida (+900). Look for a DraftKings North Carolina promo code when the state officially legalizes mobile sports betting.
A significant perk of the Deacons strong 2023 campaign is the opportunity to host this week's regional, which will see Maryland, Northeastern and George Mason come to Winston-Salem with the intent of upsetting the heavy favorites.
The Demon Deacons have won a national title before, but it came in 1955. The school has been a perennial college baseball program since, despite the fact that another title has eluded them. This is the school's 15th all-time NCAA tourney appearance, and they've made 2 College World Series appearances. But overall, it's been more heartbreak than glory so far in postseason play.
How can the Deacons safely advance to the Super Regional and eventually Omaha? Righthander Rhett Lowder, who just collected his second ACC Pitcher of the Year Award, will have to be the straw that stirs the drink.
Per GoDeacs.com, the Albemarle native is the only pitcher in the nation with 12 wins and ranks in the top 15 nationally in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk ratio. He'll likely get the ball for Game 1 on Friday against George Mason as the Deacs look to steamroll through the double-elimination bracket over the weekend.
What Other Programs Have A Shot?
Which other programs could make noise? Over at DraftKings, Duke (+4000), ECU and Campbell (both +6000), and UNC (+6500) have the next best odds after Wake Forest, but are all far from sure things.
Duke will have to get past No. 10 overall seed Coastal Carolina in their Regional, which also features a capable UNCW squad (though the Seahawks are +70000 at DraftKings). The Chanticleers went 39-19 this season and get to play host in Conway, SC, setting up a tough road test for the Blue Devils (and Seahawks.)
ECU heads to Charlottesville for a date with Virginia, Oklahoma and Army, where the Cavaliers will provide the toughest test for the Pirates. Last week, BetCarolina took a look at the unfortunate history ECU is trying to break this year.
As for the rest, Campbell and NC State (+10000) get to duke it out with each other and heavy favorite South Carolina (+2000) in the Columbia Regional, while the Tar Heels are matched up in the Terre Haute regional along with host Indiana State, Iowa and Wright State.
The ultimate longshot in the Charlotte 49ers (+40000) head just down the road to Clemson with the intent of upsetting the Tigers as well as Tennessee and Lipscomb.
Unfortunately, there are no legal online sports betting sites or apps available for North Carolina bettors to wager on the Road to Omaha, such as a BetMGM North Carolina.
