The No. 1 seed Dayton Flyers (24-10) visit the No. 4 seed Vanderbilt Commodores (18-16) at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Dayton vs. Vanderbilt odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Flyers come this game following a 74-55 opening-round victory over Toledo, covering as 1.5-point underdogs. The Flyers were 7-5 straight up (SU) on the road this season and are 8-3 against the spread (ATS) over their last 11 outings.
Dayton is led in scoring by F DaRon Holmes II, who averaged 11.9 points per game in the regular season. It has wins over Miami (FL), Kansas, and Virginia Tech this season; however, it lost to Richmond in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.
Vanderbilt is led by G Scottie Pippen Jr., who averaged 20.5 points per game in the regular season. It is coming off an 82-71 victory over Belmont in the first round of the NIT Tournament.
The Commodores beat Arkansas earlier in the year but lost to Kentucky 77-71 in the SEC Tournament after beating Georgia and Alabama, ending their NCAA Tournament dreams.
They are 22-12 ATS this season yet just 10-8 SU at home.
See also: Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports
Dayton vs. Vanderbilt odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:20 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Dayton +120 (bet $100 to win $120) | Vanderbilt -145 (bet $145 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Dayton +2.5 (-107) | Vanderbilt -2.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 134.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
[tipico]
Dayton vs. Vanderbilt odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Dayton 70, Vanderbilt 67
Money line
PASS.
Dayton has been uniquely incredible at keeping games close, so while I like them to win, I’ll still take the spread instead of the plus-money odds here. Four of its 10 total losses have come by 1 or 2 points.
The 2.5-point spread seems like the best bet in this game.
Against the spread
BET DAYTON +2.5 (-107).
Dayton is 7-5 ATS on the road this season. Its resume speaks volumes to what its ceiling is. The Flyers have downed multiple teams in the NCAA Tournament, including No. 1-seed Kansas.
Its success comes from defensive play that ranks 53rd in the nation in opponents shooting (41.0).
The Flyers’ two top-scoring options stand over 6-foot-8 which undoubtedly helps against a Vandy team that has just one player standing over 6-foot-7 that averages over 20 minutes per game.
A huge key to this game will be free-throw shooting. Dayton ranks atop the A-10 in opponents’ free-throw attempts per game at just 11.5. Vandy ranks second in a competitive SEC in free-throw attempts per game.
Dayton’s ability to defend and not foul will be huge and a key reason why they should be able to keep this game close.
Over/Under
LEAN to the OVER 134.5 (-115).
Vandy has hit three straight Overs and should be able to get some home-court whistles.
Pippen Jr. is among the best scorers in the conference. The Commodores have scored 80 or more points in three of their last four outings and are 8-4 O/U as home favorites.
Dayton is 17-17 O/U this season and 3-1 O/U in its last four games.
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