The Vanderbilt Commodores take on the Memphis Tigers in Memphis, Tennessee. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Vanderbilt is favored by -7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -350. The total is set at 158.5 points.
Here’s my Vanderbilt vs. Memphis prediction and college basketball picks for December 17, 2025.
Vanderbilt vs Memphis Prediction
My Pick: Vanderbilt -9 or Better
My Vanderbilt vs Memphis best bet is on the Commodores to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Vanderbilt vs. Memphis Odds
| Vanderbilt Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 158.5 -110 / -110 | -350 |
| Memphis Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 158.5 -110 / -110 | +275 |
- Vanderbilt vs Memphis spread: Vanderbilt -7.5
- Vanderbilt vs Memphis over/under: 158.5 points
- Vanderbilt vs Memphis moneyline: Vanderbilt -350, Memphis +275
Vanderbilt vs Memphis College Basketball Betting Preview
Vanderbilt Basketball
Vanderbilt is one of the most surprising teams in America.
The Commodores enter their second road battle of the season with a 10-0 record, sitting 11th in KenPom's ratings.
Specifically, they're elite on the offensive end, ranking fourth in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency ratings.
Mark Byington is a brilliant offensive mind. His teams play fast (47th nationally in adjusted tempo), score efficiently from inside the arc (63%) and shoot well from 3 (37%). Plus, they turn the ball over just 13% of the time.
That's all the makings of an elite offensive squad.
Vanderbilt is also a strong defensive team, ranking 30th nationally in defensive efficiency. The Dores hold teams to 46% shooting from inside the arc and 30% from deep. The only weakness to note is that Vanderbilt ranks 331st in free-throw rate allowed.
Compared to other top-10 level squads, Vanderbilt is less talented. There isn't a clear NBA player nor an All-American on the roster, but the pieces fit well.
Tyler Tanner is the ultimate connector. The sophomore point guard averages 15.8 points with 4.6 assists, while adding over two steals per game.
All of the Vandy "point guards" — Tanner, Duke Miles and Frankie Collins — register more than two steals per game.
Vanderbilt has three players who average more than 15 points: Miles, Tanner and sharpshooting wing Tyler Nickel.
Memphis Basketball
Memphis is off to a 4-5 start to the season, and that record would sting less if it weren't for a brutal home loss to UNLV.
The Tigers have a strong home win over Baylor, and their other four losses came against top-60 teams.
So, the tough matchup is nothing new for a battle-tested Memphis squad.
The Tigers have to make things ugly. They rank 50th in defensive efficiency, while holding squads to 49% shooting on 2s.
But things get a bit hairy beyond that.
Memphis is poor on the glass, which holds it back from being a better defensive team. Opponents grab offensive rebounds on 35% of missed shots.
As a response, Penny Hardaway went with a jumbo starting lineup that features dueling 7-footers, Aaron Bradshaw and Simon Majok.
In crunch time, Hardaway will surely roll with Sincere Parker or Quante Berry instead of Majak to help offensively.
That offense has sure been a problem for Memphis.
Entering Wednesday's showing, the Tigers rank 102nd nationally in offensive efficiency. Dug McDaniel is a solid point guard, but he needs to score more efficiently — he's shooting just 38% from the field and 34% from 3.
From a talent standpoint, this is one of the least gifted teams Hardaway has coached at Memphis. He went from having an All-American in PJ Haggerty to an occasionally good point guard in McDaniel and a bunch of ill-fitting pieces to a puzzle.
Vanderbilt vs. Memphis Betting Analysis
I tried to find the angle to back Memphis, and there will be a spot to fade Vanderbilt eventually.
But this is not that spot.
The Tigers' offense is brutal. McDaniel is the only double-digit scorer on the roster, and unless Hasan Abdul Hakim or Parker have a big game, I don't know where points comes from.
My Pick: Vanderbilt -9 or Better
