The Vanderbilt Commodores take on the VCU Rams in Nassau, Bahamas, in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Vanderbilt is favored by -6 points on the spread, and the total is set at 162 points.
Here’s my Vanderbilt vs. VCU predictions and college basketball picks for November 27, 2025.
Vanderbilt vs VCU Prediction
My Pick: Vanderbilt -5.5
My Vanderbilt vs VCU 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. VCU Odds
| Vanderbilt Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 162 -110 / -110 | |
| VCU Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 162 -110 / -110 | |
- Vanderbilt vs VCU spread: Vanderbilt -6
- Vanderbilt vs VCU over/under: 162.5 points
Vanderbilt vs VCU College Basketball Betting Preview
On the surface, Vanderbilt merely survived versus Western Kentucky, winning 81-76. That's a bit misleading, as the Dores led by 15 with six minutes left. They just took their foot off the gas, and Western Kentucky kept it close enough.
Mark Byington is an offensive genius. He has Vanderbilt sitting ninth in KenPom's offensive efficiency, and they're so difficult to stop.
Vandy doesn't beat itself, posting a 12% turnover rate. It can shoot it from deep, connecting on 38.9% from 3, with 48% of its shots coming from deep. And that floor spacing is something glorious.
The spaced-out floor with five shooters allows clean driving lanes, leading to Vandy shooting 64.1% from 2-point range.
The Commodores' ability to control the game, play under their own pac and limit turnovers will prove pivotal against VCU.
Vanderbilt is a strong defensive unit, too. It holds opponents to 32.7% shooting from inside the arc. However, the Dores allow teams to hit 34% from deep, so strong shooting teams can attack their defense.
As I always say, there are ebbs and flows with shooting numbers — sometimes, teams get hot from 3, and sometimes they miss open 3s. Defenses don't always dictate the shooting numbers.
VCU wants to shoot the ball from downtown, as 48% of its looks come from that area of the floor (converting on 34% of them). In three games versus top-100 opponents, VCU shot 36%, 32% and 32% against Utah State, South Florida and NC State, respectively.
The Rams will attempt to speed Vanderbilt up to force turnovers.
One downside of pressing on the ball and blitzing ball-screens is that it can lead to rebounding issues. The Rams allow offensive rebounds on 34.5% of misses, and Vanderbilt's ability to grab offensive rebounds should provide an edge in the shot-volume battle.
Phil Martelli Jr. tends to play a pretty deep rotation. The Rams can go 14 players deep when everyone is healthy.
However, they lack a go-to guy. Jadrian Tracey, a transfer from Oregon, leads VCU with 13 points per game — he's one of five players scoring 10+ points a night. In an ideal world, Terrence Hill Jr. and Nyk Lewis shoulder the scoring load. Lewis is a talented freshman who should improve once his shooting gets better.
However, the play for me is Vanderbilt. It's been an absolute wagon so far, covering in five of six games, and it covered for a chunk of the game against Western Kentucky.
I think that'll continue here. VCU won't be able to turn Vandy over, so the Rams have to find another way to win. If it boils down to out-executing Vanderbilt on offense, then good luck.
My Pick: Vanderbilt -6
