NFL Tickets
TV Schedule: Sunday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Arena: Ferrell Center, Waco, TX
Line: Baylor (-1.5)
With identical 5-1 records, the No. 25 Baylor Bears and the No. 16 Vanderbilt Commodores are stuck behind conference foes the Kansas Jayhawks and Kentucky Wildcats in terms of national perception and hype. Both of these teams are prepared to make a run at their respective conferences, the Big 12 and SEC, but only one will leave Waco, Texas, on Sunday night with a huge resume-boosting win.
Vanderbilt fell to Kansas earlier in the season, but are coming off a 102-52 win over the Detroit Titans, a team that was averaging over 95 points per game until they came to Nashville. Vanderbilt might be known for their outside shooting prowess, but this team’s defense, which is only allowing 59.2 points per game, is what should scare opposing teams.
Vandy’s Damian Jones came into the season expected to be the star of this Commodores’ squad, but sophomore Wade Baldwin IV might be the most valuable player in the SEC. Not only does he lead Vanderbilt in scoring, but he is earning himself a name as one of the best leaders in college basketball. Baldwin called out Jones a few games ago, and it completely transformed the way the older player performed. Don’t underestimate the power of leadership, as this will be one of Vanderbilt’s toughest road games of the season.
The Baylor Bears, on the other hand, have played four straight weak opponents and, as expected, blown them out by at least 17 points each. The Bears’ potent front court continues to dominate opposing teams and will be a nightmare for even the best teams in the country. Rico Gathers averaging a double-double has not been a surprise, but the emergence of sophomore guard Al Freeman takes Baylor from a top five Big 12 team to a legitimate Big 12 regular season title contender. Kansas must have one eye on the Bears at all times.
That being said, Vanderbilt is the all-around better team. Even though this game is in Waco, I honestly do not know how Baylor is favored. When you compare the two schedules, the Commodores’ is significantly more difficult and their wins were significantly more impressive.
The Bears are an NCAA tournament team, but they have yet to be challenged at all this season and lost to the only NCAA tournament team they faced, the Oregon Ducks. Jones should be able to handle himself on the inside against Taurean Prince, Gathers and Johnathan Motley, and the Commodores should tear Baylor up with outside shooting.
Expect this to be a coming out game for Kevin Stallings and Co. nationally, as Vandy wins yet again and inches closer to the top 10 – right where the Commodores belong.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 70, Baylor 64
Taylor Sturm is a Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TSturmRS, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
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