Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt Prediction: College Basketball Picks & Odds (Nov. 5)

My best Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt prediction highlights why No. 24 Vanderbilt is being overvalued. Last season, Vanderbilt's offense was outstanding, but with most of its key pieces gone, I don't expect the Commodores to score as easily, especially against a competent ACC defense.

Tonight's tipoff from Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., is at 6 p.m. ET. Vanderbilt is favored by 18.5. The game will air on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN Unlimited.

Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt picks & odds

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds.

Picks submitted: Nov. 5 at noon ET. Odds subject to change.

Total wagered: 5 units | Profit if all picks win: 4.39 units

Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt best bet

Wake Forest +18.5 (-113 via bet365)

Last season, Vanderbilt was the 14th-highest-scoring team in the nation. However, only one of the eight players who averaged more than 5.0 points per game is still with the team. That player is leading scorer Tyler Tanner, who averaged 19.5 points per game last season. And while he scored 20 in Vanderbilt's season opener, I still have questions about the rest of the offense.

Vanderbilt's second-leading scorer in the season opener was Berke Buyuktuncel, who averaged just 6.5 points per game last year with Nebraska. While Ace Glass, who averaged 16.4 points per game with Washington State, should provide supplementary offense, Sebastian Williams-Adams and Chandler Bing don't provide enough depth to hit last season's numbers.

Five different Wake Forest players scored in double figures in the season opener. There won't be a major drop-off against a defense that allowed 75.0 points per game last year.

Play to: Wake Forest +15.5

Score prediction: Vanderbilt 77, Wake Forest 67

Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt player props

Follow all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.

Tyler Tanner Over 4.5 assists (-125 via bet365)

Not only did Tanner lead Vanderbilt in points per game last season, but he also led them with 5.1 assists per contest. He dished out at least five assists in 22 of his 36 games last year. After six assists to open this season, he now has at least three assists in 31 of his last 34 games, so he enters with a high floor.

Though Wake Forest only allowed eight assists to Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday, this defense made it easy for players to get their teammates involved last season. Wake Forest allowed 14.9 assists per game, which ranked 288th out of 365 teams. While the roster looks significantly different this year, that doesn't change the fact that, on paper, this is a great matchup for a player who is great at finding teammates.

Play to: Over 5.5 assists at +100 or better. Pass at 6.5

Kevair Kennedy Under 3.5 rebounds (+102 via bet365)

Last season with Merrimack, Kennedy averaged 4.6 rebounds per game. He finished with three or fewer rebounds in 12 games, and though the 6-2 guard grabbed nine rebounds in Wake Forest's season-opener, that has more to do with competition than Kennedy's rebounding prowess.

Vanderbilt's starting five features the 6-10 Buyuktuncel and the 6-9 Williams-Adams. Coming off the bench, the Commodores also have the 6-11 Bangot Dak and the 6-10 Jackson Sheffield. Plus, Maryland Eastern Shore shot just 38% from the field, giving Kennedy and the rest of Wake Forest more rebounding opportunities.

Vanderbilt shot 60% in its first game and should have no trouble from the field against a team that allowed opponents to shoot 44.1% last season. That ranked 169th in the country.

Play to: Under 3.5 rebounds -115. Pass at 2.5.

Live Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt odds

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Latest Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt injuries

Wake Forest:

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Vanderbilt:

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How to watch Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt

• Date: Thursday, Nov. 5
• Tipoff: 6 p.m. ET
• Location: Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville, Tenn.)
• TV/Streaming: ESPN2/ESPN Unlimited