Vanderbilt vs LSU Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for March 9 SEC Tournament (Expect Fireworks at Bridgestone Arena)

Vanderbilt vs LSU Game Info

• 2022-23 NCAA Basketball SEC Tournament Game
• Vanderbilt (18-13, 11-7 SEC) vs. LSU (14-18, 2-16 SEC)
• Date: Thursday, March 9, 2023
• Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
• Venue: Bridgestone Arena -- Nashville, Tennessee
• Coverage: SEC Network

The SEC Tournament continues on Thursday with a great matchup between the LSU Tigers and Vanderbilt Commodores. Neither team has won the conference title since the 2011-12 season. The winner of this second-round matchup will then advance to face the No. 3-seeded Kentucky Wildcats.

LSU snapped a three-game losing streak with a hard-fought 72-67 win over Georgia in the first round on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt has now won eight of its last nine games following a 77-72 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday.

Which SEC squad will emerge victorious on Thursday? Let's dive in and take a closer look.

Vanderbilt vs LSU Odds & Spread

• All college basketball betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
• Moneyline: VANDY: (-200) | LSU: (+164)
• Spread: VANDY: -4.5 (-110) | LSU: +4.5 (-110)
• Total: 141.5 -- Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)

Vanderbilt enters this contest as a moderate favorite on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 9:30 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 141.5 points, which is above average compared to Thursday's projected totals.

Vanderbilt vs LSU Betting Trends

• Vanderbilt's record against the spread is 17-14-0.
• The Commodores are 4-5 as 4.5-point favorites or more.
• Vanderbilt has played 31 games this season, and 17 of them have hit the over.
• LSU has covered the spread 11 times in 32 games.
• The Tigers are 4-10 as 4.5-point underdogs or greater.
• Out of LSU's 32 games so far this year, 14 have gone over the total.

Vanderbilt Rank	Vanderbilt AVG		LSU AVG	LSU Rank
177th	72.0	Points Scored	67.6	287th
230th	71.7	Points Allowed	70.5	191st
71st	33.6	Rebounds	31.3	212th
45th	10.2	Off. Rebounds	9.4	92nd
63rd	8.5	3pt Made	7.3	195th
284th	11.8	Assists	12.3	241st
22nd	9.9	Turnovers	11.9	185th

Vanderbilt vs LSU Prediction & Pick

LSU is likely not the opponent Vanderbilt wanted to match up against in their first SEC Tournament game. The Commodores fell short in their only game against the Tigers this season, losing by a final score of 84-77 on Feb. 22. The good news is that there is a clear chance for revenge in this spot.

The Commodores could pull away early in this game if they focus on their ability to take care of the basketball. Vanderbilt ranks 30th in turnovers per game (10.6), while LSU ranks 186th in that same category. Not giving up easy buckets due to sloppy play will make a big impact in a close game.

LSU has lost 17 of its last 19 games overall, so fade the Tigers in a game that ends their season.

Final Score Prediction: Vanderbilt: 75 | LSU: 71

Vanderbilt vs LSU Best Bet

These teams line up similarly in a number of statistics, which makes avoiding the spread and focusing on the point total here a smart move. Both of these teams have been shining on offense as of late. Over the last five contests, LSU is averaging 73.6 points and Vanderbilt is averaging 75.4 points.

The total has hit the Over in five of the Tiger's last six games overall and in five of the Commodores' last seven games overall. The Over has also cashed in eight of the last 10 showdowns between LSU and Vanderbilt. Trust the trends and root for points in this SEC Tournament second-round matchup.

Bet: OVER 141.5 Total Points (-110)

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.