For the fifth time in the past 10 years, the Arkansas Razorbacks will make their early summer pilgrimage to downtown Omaha for the College World Series.
This year’s squad did so as an unseeded team, capturing the Stillwater Regional over host Oklahoma State, before travelling to Chapel Hill to knock off 11th-ranked North Carolina in the best-of-three super regional round.
It’s the first time in three years Arkansas has made it to Omaha and the 11th time in school history the Razorbacks have qualified for the College World Series.
Now, Dave Van Horn’s squad will look to do something no other squad in school history has accomplished.
Arkansas kicks off its CWS chase on Saturday against third-seeded Stanford at 1 p.m. Central time on ESPN.
During this CWS run, for the first time, mobile Arkansas sports betting has been available to fans.
Here’s what you need to know about Arkansas’ quest for a national title.
Men’s College World Series Schedule
Friday
Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M, 1 p.m., ESPN
Notre Dame vs. Texas, 6 p.m., ESPN
Saturday
Arkansas vs. Stanford, 1 p.m., ESPN
Ole Miss vs. Auburn, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Razorbacks Among Top 4 in CWS Futures
None of the four largest online sportsbooks are operational in the Natural State, though that doesn’t mean Razorbacks fans can’t use their odds as a benchmark.
Van Horn’s squad has stable odds across the four sites, with DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook listing them at +550, while BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook have the Razorbacks at +650 to win it all.
Overall, Arkansas ranks fourth out of eight teams at DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook.
The Cardinal, who Arkansas squares off against to open the CWS, are either first or second on all four sites — with odds ranging from +400 (BetMGM) to +500 (DraftKings Sportsbook).
Men’s College World Series Odds
What Local Sportsbooks Have to Say About the CWS
Both mobile sportsbooks operational in Arkansas now, in BetSaracen (owned by Pine Bluff’s Saracen Casino Resort) and Betly Arkansas (owned by Soutland Casino) have odds on the Razorbacks in the CWS.
BetSaracen, which launched in early May, lists Arkansas at +475 to win the CWS, third in the eight-team field, while Betly Sportsbook has the Razorbacks at +500.
Neal Atkinson, who serves as the director of table games and sportsbook at Saracen, told BetArkansas.com the operator is expecting large demand from in-state bettors on the CWS.
“We’ve had tremendous reception to BetSaracen. We are extremely pleased with our results on customer signups, average deposits, and the amount of handle we’ve seen during this slower sports cycle,” Atkinson said in an email to BetArkansas.com. “From that perspective, Arkansas softball and baseball created a lot of interest and engagement and action on the site.
“Our launch offer of a $500 deposit match has been extremely popular. We knew this was an aggressive offer for an in-state startup with us only asking for one time play through, but we felt we owed Arkansas a competitive and lucrative welcome bonus.”
Luisa Woods, who serves as the vice president of marketing for Delaware North, which owns and operates Southland Casino and its Betly Arkansas Sportsbook brand, echoed Atkinson’s statements.
The Betly Arkansas Sportsbook launched in early March.
“We are very pleased with the performance of our Arkansas Betly sportsbook offerings so far,” Woods said in an email to BetArkansas.com. “With only a few months under our belt, we are seeing positive growth — growth that is sustainable and doesn’t inflate the market with loss-leading promotions and bonuses that oftentimes come with the out-of-state national brands.
“We’ve tailored all our products to our Southland customers and continue to evolve their gaming experience with Betly online, as well as at the property by expanding the casino and adding a hotel and other amenities — all of which are driving revenues into Arkansas.”
