UCLA vs South Carolina 2010 College World Series Odds & Preview: South Carolina will look to a sophomore pitcher, left-hander Michael Roth, to make an attempt to shut down the UCLA Bruins so the Gamecocks can nail down their first College World Series championship Tuesday night (7:30 pm Eastern, ESPN).Looking to stay alive, UCLA will give the ball to junior left-hander Rob Rasmussen. If UCLA can get a win, the series will be decided in a third game on Wednesday.
Oddsmakers at SPORTSBETTING.com list the Bruins as -160 moneyline favorites versus the Gamecocks with a 10 1/2-run game total. Gamecocks' backers are getting +130 odds as the underdog. Rasmussen has served as UCLA's No. 3 starter all year where he accumulated an 11-3 record with a 2.87 ERA. Rasmussen has a hot hand right now picking up post-season wins against Cal Irvine and Cal State Fullerton. Rasmussen ranks third in the Pac-10 in strikeouts.
Roth led the Gamecocks with 36 appearances on the year and owns a 2-1 record with a 1.27 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched with 32 strikeouts to just eight walks. Opponents have struggled facing Roth only batting .174 against him.
Senior right-hander Blaker Cooper worked into the ninth inning and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out 10 batters and the Gamecocks offense jumped out to a five-run lead in the first three innings to defeat UCLA 7-1 in game one of the CWS series. Carolina is now 53-16 while the loss drops UCLA to 51-16 for the year.
