SMU vs. Vanderbilt, Picks and Prediction, Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Use Code WWWC The ACC/SEC Challenge continues on Wednesday in this SMU vs. Vanderbilt prediction. Yes, SMU (8-0) is an ACC team after spending years in the ACC, AAC, Conference USA, WAC, and now-defunct Southwest Conference. They travel to Tennessee to take on a No. 17 Vanderbilt team (8-0) that has the same record and is having a great start, feeding off their football team. These teams met in 2020 and 2021, with the Mustangs winning both games SU and ATS. Vandy is a -10.5-point favorite and the total is 167.5. These teams will meet on Wednesday at 9:15pmET. Check out more free college basketball predictions and other big plays at Winners and Whiners.
Mustangs pass first road test
Last Friday, SMU played in Starkville, Miss., facing a struggling Bulldogs team and needed overtime to beat Mississippi State 87-81 in overtime. SMU won as a 1.5-point dog in this game, thanks to 28 points and nine rebounds from Boopie Miler and 24 from Jason Pierre Jr. There wasn't a lot of bench production with Miller and three other starters playing at least 39 minutes.
Bench depth up front is a concern with Michigan transfer Sam Walters (6-9, 230) missing the last three games. He's listed as questionable due to an ankle injury. Miler is a talented and well-travelled 6-foot guard who has played at Central Michigan and Wake Forest before coming to SMU last season. He leads the team with 21.2 points on 49% shooting (45.9% 3pt). Pierre Jr., a Jacksonville State transfer, adds 18.4 points and 6.4 rebounds on 45.7% shooting (31.7% 3pt).
According to KenPom, the Mustangs rank 42nd overall, 46th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency and 51st in Adjusted Defense. They are also 36th in assist-to-turnover ratio.
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Vandy is Dandy
It must be nice being a Vanderbilt sports fan nowadays. Even if their football team at 10-2 doesn't receive a bid to the CFP, they showed that they are a player once again in the SEC and are not somebody you can just count as a win every Saturday. In basketball, Vandy just had a very successful trip to the Bahamas, winning the Battle 4 Atlantis title over Saint Mary's 96-71 on Nov. 28. That's after beating Western Kentucky (83-78) and VCU (89-74) in successive days. To win three games in three days, you need a strong bench and the Commodores have one led by Jalen Washington, who had 19 points in the final.
Washington is a 6-10 center and a transfer from North Carolina, who is playing 17.6 minutes per game, averaging 8.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. Duke Miles leads the team in scoring with 18.8 points per game on 474% from long range with 4.8 assists. Tyler Nickel adds 13.5 points and is shooting 46.3% from beyond the arc.
This is an outstanding offensive team, averaging 52.1% from the field and 40.2% from long range (18th). KenPom has the Commodores at 10th overall and fourth in Adjusted Offense.
Spread Pick for SMU vs. Vanderbilt
SMU vs. Vandy Pick and Score Prediction
- Vanderbilt 90-SMU 85
- SMU +10.5 (5 units)
Vandy is a nice team, but that's a lot of points against an undefeated team that has some confidence right now. SMU is no slouch when it comes to shooting (49.6% FG), and they are also very good at the line (76.4%). SMU guard Boopie Miller has gone 16 straight games with double-figures in points. The Mustangs have also won 13 straight non-conference games in the regular season so they have the intangible edge.
Over/Under Pick for SMU vs. Vandy
- Over 167.5 (4 units)
Andy Enfield teams usually run. Both squads are fast-paced teams. Vandy's Mark Byington runs a fast-paced motion offense. The Commodores, who average 97 points per game, face an SMU team averaging 92 points, so this won't be a rock fight.
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