Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky Prediction & Odds: College Basketball Betting Preview for Nov. 26

My Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky prediction breaks down the first game of the highly anticipated Battle 4 Atlantis tournament with a noon ET tip from Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas, airing on ESPN.

No. 24 Vanderbilt is the only ranked team in this multi-team tournament field, and its steep -125 odds (55.56% implied probability) to win the event are reflected in its 18-point spread as a big betting favorite. While it is difficult to assess these teams based on poor non-conference schedules to date, the victorious squad should roll into the winners’ bracket on the heels of an offensive explosion.

These matchups are a part of Feast Week, and you can stay on top of all the hoops action this Thanksgiving with our college basketball Feast Week guide.

✅ Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky prediction & expert picks

See all of our experts' college basketball picks this week.

🏀 Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky preview & score prediction

Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky are a combined 9-0, but have not played the most daunting schedules with just one win over a top-210 KenPom team between them. 

While we should get a better feel for how these teams will perform in the SEC and CUSA, respectively, with this step-up in competition, there is enough data to support the Over as a confident five-star play in this early tip.

Vanderbilt’s historic offense

The Commodores have lit up the scoreboard to the tune of 100-plus points in four of five games, and 92 in the other. Their four games of 100 or more points have already surpassed last season’s total of three such games, and mark the first time with that many in a season since 1975-76.

While much of that is due to beating up on four teams ranked 212th or worse in KenPom, it is impressive no matter the competition that Vanderbilt compiled those numbers with no game having more than 75 possessions.

This would not be a five-star score prediction if I did not think Western Kentucky could keep up in the scoring. The fact that Vanderbilt has allowed 93 points to UCF and 75 to Arkansas Pine Bluff (the Golden Lions’ second-highest scoring output of the season amid an 0-8 start) suggests the Hilltoppers have a path to offense.

Over backers will find the best number at bet365, the only one of our best sports betting sites with a total of a full point lower than the rest of the market at 168.5. Its -110 price carries a 52.38% implied probability, and would net $9.09 in profits on a winning $10 wager.

Score prediction: Vanderbilt 96, Western Kentucky 75

🆚 Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky matchup to watch

Vanderbilt offense vs. Western Kentucky defense

Vanderbilt is coming off a game where it had seven players score in double figures, its most since 2018. And that output was not a product of isolation basketball and identifying mismatches, as the team zipped the ball around and finished with 28 assists, their most in a game since 2005.

Western Kentucky plays at the 37th-fastest adjusted tempo in the country, suggesting this game should feature even more possessions than Vanderbilt is used to. I expect that to pay off in the Commodores exceeding their already lofty team total.

This isn't the only team total I'm targeting today, as I feature another one in my college basketball best bets & player props today.

Best prop bet: Vanderbilt team total Over 93.5 (-115 via DraftKings)

📊 Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky odds

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📺 How to watch Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky

• Date: Wednesday, Nov. 26
• Tipoff: Noon ET
• Location: Imperial Arena (Nassau, Bahamas)
• TV: ESPN