The Vanderbilt Commodores take on the Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville, TN. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Tennessee is favored by 3.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -175. The total is set at 147.5 points.
Here’s my Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee predictions and college basketball picks for March 7, 2026.
Vanderbilt vs Tennessee Prediction
My Pick: Lean Tennessee ATS | Ja'Kobi Gillespie Over Points Prop
My Vanderbilt vs Tennessee best bet is on Gillespie to go over his points prop. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee Odds
| Vanderbilt Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -105 | 147.5 -110 / -110 | +145 |
| Tennessee Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -115 | 147.5 -110 / -110 | -175 |
- Vanderbilt vs Tennessee spread: Tennessee -3.5
- Vanderbilt vs Tennessee over/under: 147.5 points
- Vanderbilt vs Tennessee moneyline: Vanderbilt +145, Tennessee -175
Vanderbilt vs Tennessee College Basketball Betting Preview
Vanderbilt Basketball
At the start of its season, Vanderbilt won 16 consecutive games, not losing its first matchup until mid-January.
Prior to Mark Byington’s tenure in Nashville, Vanderbilt failed to receive an NCAA Tournament bid in seven consecutive seasons under Scott Drew and Jerry Stackhouse. Per ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi, the Commodores are currently projected to receive a five-seed in the upcoming Big Dance.
Leading the charge for an impressive Vanderbilt offense is point guard Tyler Tanner. The sophomore is posting an exceptional 19 points per game, while also tallying over five assists and nearly four rebounds on average.
The Vanderbilt point guard also thrives as a two-way player, ranking inside the top 10 in college basketball with 2.5 steals per game.
Alongside Tanner in the backcourt, Duke Miles is having a great season of his own, as he's averaging over 16 points per game.
Byington has also receives stellar offensive production from his frontcourt, particularly Tyler Nickel, who's posting 14 points per contest.
Vanderbilt’s offense operates at a very high pace, using rapid ball movement, high-volume 3-point shooting and a “grab-and-go” transition offense to its advantage.
The Commodores’ offense functions through constant off-ball motion, screens and the “Spain Pick-and-Roll," which is utilized to create space, resulting in very efficient shot selection.
Byington’s intricate up-tempo offensive schematics have produced one of college basketball’s top offenses, ranking 14th nationally in offensive efficiency rating, per KenPom.
Tennessee Basketball
Rick Barnes is in his ninth season as Tennessee head coach and is well on his way to leading his Volunteers to an eighth NCAA Tournament appearance.
Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie is having a phenomenal season, leading Barnes’ offense in scoring with over 18 points per contest. The point guard is tallying nearly six assists and three rebounds on average.
Gillespie plays a vital role for an offense that scores over 80 points per game. The former Terp has stepped up in a big way to fill the shoes of Zakai Ziegler, who graduated this past season.
Tennessee's offense is scoring over 80 points per game this season and ranks just outside the top 30 in the country in offensive efficiency, per KenPom.
Meanwhile, freshman forward Nate Ament has been a good sidekick, as he's averaging upwards of 17 points and six rebounds.
Ament got hurt in the first half of last week’s matchup versus Alabama, and he's doubtful for this matchup.
The Volunteers’ interior defense is exceptional behind the play of Felix Okpara, who's proven to be an elite rim protector.
Tennessee’s defensive unit is allowing its opponents to score under 70 points per game and also ranks 14th in the nation in defensive efficiency rating, per KenPom.
Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee Betting Analysis
I'm concerned about the Commodores' ability to perform on the road, where they've been far worse for the majority of the season. Tanner is one of my favorite players to watch in all of college basketball, but the Volunteers' stout defensive unit will surely be very tricky to navigate.
I'll lean towards Tennessee against the spread, but without Ament, I'm not that confident. Instead, I'll focus on Gillespie to go over his points prop, as his usage will increase without the freshman sidekick.
My Pick: Lean Tennessee ATS | Ja'Kobi Gillespie Over Points Prop
