Tennessee vs. Miami (OH): 3 keys and odds for Friday’s NCAA Baseball Tournament Clash

The journey for the Tennessee Volunteers to repeat as national champions begins Friday. The Vols earned the 14th seed in the 2025 NCAA D1 Baseball Tournament and are led by SEC Pitcher of the Year Liam Doyle.

Tennessee will host a regional contest against a tough Miami of Ohio squad on Friday as tournament action begins.

The Volunteers come in with a 43-16 record but just 16-14 in SEC play, while the Redhawks dominated the Mid-American Conference with a 23-7 record and are 35-21 overall.

Below are key factors and odds at Tennessee sports betting apps for Friday’s game.

Doyle needs to regain lights-out form

Despite an impressive 9-3 record and 2.72 ERA, southpaw starter Doyle comes into the tournament in the midst of a rough patch. He has surrendered 10 earned runs in his last two starts, including a particularly jarring affair against Arkansas, when he allowed 11 hits and six earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. He gave up three home runs in that short start.

For the Vols to get started on the right foot in the NCAA Tournament, they will need a solid performance from Doyle and bullpen Friday against the University of Miami.

Becoming familiar with the unfamiliar

It’s been more than 50 years since the Volunteers last played the Redhawks. Miami notched a 10-6 victory against Tennessee in 1969.

Winners of the MAC Tournament this year, Miami earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2005.

Tennessee will face Cooper Katskee on the mound Friday. Katskee went 11-1 this season with a 2.66 ERA. He fanned 69 batters in 81.1 innings pitched, and the Volunteers will be looking to get him rattled early.

Fischer delivers at Lindsey Nelson

Tennessee’s Andrew Fischer is one of NCAA’s top sluggers, and he did the bulk of his damage this season at home. Fischer hit 15 of his 22 homers at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.

As regional hosts, the Vols are hoping he can harness that power to propel them over the RedHawks and into the Super Regionals and beyond.

Fischer led the SEC in on-base percentage (1.253) and home runs (22), so he is a critical cog in Tennessee’s repeat hopes.

Odds favor the Vols

The Volunteers are heavy moneyline favorites over the RedHawks on Friday at -620. Oddsmakers are leaning heavily on Tennessee’s SEC level of competition as well as Doyle’s workhorse ability as a frontline starter.

The Vols are the favorites to win the Knoxville Regional at most sports betting apps, coming in at -250 at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Looking down the road, Tennessee’s odds to make the CWS are +170, a few ticks behind archrival and NCAA Tournament top seed Vanderbilt, which sits at +120.

The Volunteers take on Cincinnati and Wake Forest after Miami.

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