2019 College World Series finals: Vanderbilt vs. Michigan preview, prediction, watch online

Here’s everything you need to know about the College World Series finals between Vanderbilt and Michigan, including how to watch online.

After eight teams arrived in Omaha hoping to have a shot at winning a national title this season, just two remain.

The Vanderbilt Commodores, led by Tim Corbin, have been here before. Recently, in fact. Vandy was here just four years ago in this exact position and ended up winning a national championship in 2014. Now, Corbin and the Commodores have come back to Omaha seeking another title and are the favorites to win the 2019 College World Series.

The Michigan Wolverines, on the other hand, haven’t been here since 1984. Erik Bakich will be facing his former mentor (and colleague) as Michigan looks to claim its first national title since 1962. While this technically isn’t new territory for Michigan as a program, it’s new to these players, faces, and the vast majority of the Michigan fans that will be present in Omaha.

2019 College World Series finals schedule

Game 1

• When: Monday, June 24, at 6 p.m. CT.
• Where: Omaha
• TV Channel: ESPN
• Livestream: WatchESPN

Game 2

• When: Tuesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. CT.
• Where: Omaha
• TV Channel: ESPN
• Livestream: WatchESPN

Game 3 (if necessary)

• When: Wednesday, June 26, at 6 p.m. CT.
• Where: Omaha
• TV Channel: ESPN
• Livestream: WatchESPN

Prediction: Michigan or Vanderbilt?

It’s hard to pick against the Vanderbilt Commodores. They’ve been one of the best, most efficient teams all season. The Commodores have one of the best pitching staffs in the country and have processed right through all of their foes to make it to this point.

Picking Vandy would be the smart thing to do here.

But, I’m going to go with my gut here.

I’m not going to pick against the Michigan Wolverines again. I did just that a few times when I said that UCLA had one of the easiest routes to Omaha. I didn’t see Michigan making it out of the Corvallis regional alive when the Wolverines had to contend with the Creighton Bluejays and the Oregon State Beavers.

And Michigan advanced.

Michigan went into the Los Angeles super regional and found a way to give the UCLA Bruins a series loss, something no team had done prior to that all season.

And so, while Vanderbilt is almost certainly the better team right here in this moment and has been all season, Michigan has found a way to defy the odds before and create some incredible moments. I’m picking Erik Bakich and the Michigan Wolverines to come out on top, simply because it doesn’t seem likely, but the Wolverines have won in similarly difficult positions before and can do it again. They’re riding a hot streak right now, as evidenced by their monumental win over Texas Tech.

I think they can win this thing in three games.

Pick: Michigan in 3