The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nassau, Bahamas, in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Vanderbilt is favored by -18.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -4000. The total is set at 167.5 points.
Here’s my Western Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt predictions and college basketball picks for November 26, 2025.
Western Kentucky vs Vanderbilt Prediction
My Pick: Vanderbilt -18.5 (Play to -20)
My Western Kentucky vs Vanderbilt 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.
Western Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Odds
| W. Kentucky Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+18.5 -102 | 167.5 -115 / -105 | +1400 |
| Vanderbilt Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-18.5 -118 | 167.5 -115 / -105 | -4000 |
- Western Kentucky vs Vanderbilt spread: Vanderbilt -18.5
- Western Kentucky vs Vanderbilt over/under: 167.5 points
- Western Kentucky vs Vanderbilt moneyline: Western Kentucky +1400, Vanderbilt -4000
Western Kentucky vs Vanderbilt College Basketball Betting Preview
Western Kentucky Basketball
The Hilltoppers are 4-0 in year two of the Hank Plona era, and they’ve rocketed up the KenPom rankings from 202nd in the preseason to 147th as of writing.
Western Kentucky is an interesting team with a pretty extreme statistical profile.
Plona’s squad likes his teams to play fast — 33rd nationally in tempo — and nobody has taken better care of the ball so far. They’re No. 1 in the country in turnover percentage. Offensively, they live in the paint and try to get to the free-throw line, ranking fourth nationally with 34 free-throw attempts per game.
Shooting from distance has been a nightmare. The 18.4% clip through four games is the second-worst in the country.
I’ll give them some credit, though — at least they’re self-aware. Only 25% of their field goal attempts come from behind the arc, which is the third-lowest 3-point rate nationally. They did, however, shoot 12-for-27 from deep in their most recent game, albeit against NAIA Bethel (TN).
Western Kentucky is led by sophomore guard Teagan Moore, who’s averaging 18.3 points and six rebounds a night.
Vanderbilt Basketball
The Commodores are flying under the radar nationally, even though they finally cracked the AP Poll this week. They’re off to a 5-0 start in year two under Mark Byington. It’s been mostly a breeze — four easy home wins over low mid-majors — but a 12-point road win at UCF is a legit Q1 result.
Vandy’s offense has been electric so far, as it's fifth in KenPom, fourth in effective field goal percentage and second nationally in turnover percentage (only behind Western Kentucky).
Defensively, the Dores are top-25 in both block rate and steal rate.
The one surprising knock on their defensive profile is they're only 113th in defensive turnover percentage. As the season goes along I would expect a Byington team to get in or around the top 50.
The Commodores play fast, move the ball really well and can punish you in so many different ways. Their spacing is elite, with shooting everywhere. That opens up driving lines and wide open catch-and-shoot looks.
Mobile, skilled bigs like Devin McGlockton and Jalen Washington cause matchup problems for most teams. McGlockton, Tyler Tanner, Duke Miles and Tyler Nickel are all top-25 nationally in offensive rating.
Western Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Betting Analysis
I’m incredibly high on this Vanderbilt team. I think it's going to be very tough to beat all season.
To me, the two best ways to find success against the Dores are: bully them inside and control the glass, or muck it up and force a half-court game.
Western Kentucky hasn’t played anyone in the top 230, and it's still shooting just 18.4% from deep. Plona wants to play fast, but I don’t think trying to run with this Vanderbilt team is going to go very well.
Western Kentucky has taken pristine care of the ball, but it hasn't seen anything close to Vandy’s guards yet.
The Commodores will start the Battle 4 Atlantis with a 20+ point win.
My Pick: Vanderbilt -18.5 (Play to -20)
