The Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-0) and the No. 21 Vanderbilt Commodores (1-0) meet Thursday at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NCAA basketball odds around the Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt odds and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions for the best bets.
Wake Forest opened its season Monday with an 83-62 victory over the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks, although the Demon Deacons failed to cover as 32.5-point home favorites as the Over (144.5) hit. Freshman F Gavin Placide led the way with 20 points and grabbed 7 rebounds while G Kevair Kennedy flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. Wake Forest never
trailed.
Vanderbilt cruised to a 93-47 victory over the Bellarmine Knights in Monday's season opener, easily covering as 35.5-point home favorites as the Under (159.5) hit. The Commodores shot an impressive 60% from the field and 80% from the free-throw line, scoring 35 points off turnovers. G Tyler Tanner led the way with 20 points, while C Berke Büyüktuncel added 13 and G Ace Glass chipped in 12.
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series against Wake Forest 7-4, winning the last 3 meetings. The Commodores dominated their most recent matchup last Dec. 21 cruising to a 98-67 road victory. Vanderbilt easily covered as a 6.5-point favorite as the Over (164.5) cashed.
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Wake Forest at Vanderbilt odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Wednesday at 10:54 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Wake Forest +1050 (bet $100 to win $1050) | Vanderbilt -2500 (bet $2,500 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Wake Forest +17.5 (-110) | Vanderbilt -17.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 155.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Wake Forest at Vanderbilt picks and predictions
Prediction
Vanderbilt 88, Wake Forest 75
Moneyline
PASS.
I like the Commodores (-2500) to win, but there's no value in betting the moneyline. I don't think Wake Forest (+1050) gets blown out, so I'll take the points.
Against the spread
BET WAKE FOREST +17.5 (-110).
Vanderbilt dominated Bellarmine Monday, shooting 60% from the field and putting together an incredible 50-5 scoring run. However, Wake Forest presents a much tougher challenge, and those shooting numbers will be difficult to duplicate against stronger competition.
The Demon Deacons got a season opening victory, led by Placide's 20 points. Wake Forest has the size and athleticism to challenge Vanderbilt defensively while creating opportunities offensively.
The Commodores are also without G Gabe Nesmith following ankle surgery, leaving their wing rotation thinner than expected. Vanderbilt crushed Wake Forest 98-67 last December, but that result shouldn't carry too much weight with new rosters. Expect a more competitive matchup, especially if Vanderbilt cools off offensively and Wake Forest takes advantage of its depth.
Over/Under
BET UNDER 155.5 (-105).
Vanderbilt opened the season with a dominant defensive performance, holding Bellarmine to just 47 points while forcing turnovers and controlling the tempo. Wake Forest relied on transition scoring against Maryland Eastern Shore, but Vanderbilt's disciplined defense should limit those opportunities. The Commodores also held Wake Forest to 35.2% shooting in last season's matchup. Expect longer possessions, tougher shots and fewer easy baskets Thursday.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Vanderbilt Commodores odds, picks and predictions
