2026 College World Series Odds: Betting favorites to win national championship updated after Week 1

LSU and UCLA lead the way in BetMGM's updated odds to win the 2026 College World Series after the first week of the season.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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The first week of college baseball is officially over, and BetMGM has released their updated favorites to win the 2026 College World Series. LSU and UCLA, the current top two ranked teams, lead the way, with LSU being the favorite to win the national championship. Several other top teams like Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Mississippi State are also among the top contenders.

Why it matters

The path to the College World Series will look a little different in 2026, with the top 32 seeds being ranked in order from 1-32 and placed into pods of four. This new format could shake up the traditional favorites and underdogs, making the race to Omaha even more competitive and unpredictable.

The details

LSU is off to a 4-0 start, sweeping Milwaukee and defeating Kent State. The Tigers have already hit 10 home runs, led by Jake Brown's 4 homers. UCLA, the top-ranked team, won their season-opening series against UC San Diego. Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Mississippi State are also among the top contenders, with impressive starts to their seasons.

  • The first week of college baseball is officially over.
  • BetMGM released their updated favorites to win the 2026 College World Series on Tuesday, February 17 at 1:15 p.m. ET.

The players

LSU

The No. 2 ranked team in the country, off to a 4-0 start with 10 home runs already.

UCLA

The top-ranked team in the country, won their season-opening series against UC San Diego.

Arkansas

The No. 8 ranked team, went 2-1 in the Shriners Children's College Showdown with impressive wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Georgia

The No. 14 ranked team, has a ton of talent in the lineup and a pitching staff full of upside.

Tennessee

The No. 13 ranked team, got off to a dominant 3-0 start against Nicholls, led by Reese Chapman, Henry Ford and Blaine Brown.

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The takeaway

The updated 2026 College World Series odds highlight the depth and competitiveness of the top teams in college baseball this season. With the new tournament format, the race to Omaha could be more unpredictable than ever, making this year's tournament one to watch closely.