Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee Prediction, Picks & Odds Tonight: College Baseball Preview & Best Bets

We dive into the Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee odds for today’s college baseball matchup, including an expert pick.

Isaiah Sirois

Last updated: May 11, 2025 12:26 PM EDT • 4 min read

The Vanderbilt Commodores (35-16) and the Tennessee Volunteers (39-12) will face off to decide the series tonight. This is a massively consequential game as both teams have short College World Series odds, with Tennessee at +650 and Vanderbilt at +2200.

Tennessee is favored to win the rubber match, so let’s dive into the Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee prediction and odds for tonight’s action.

📊 Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee betting odds

Here are the latest Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee odds courtesy of DraftKings as of Sunday.

💰 Moneyline

Vanderbilt: +150
Tennessee: -195

💰 Run line

Vanderbilt: +1.5 (-110)
Tennessee: -1.5 (-120)

✅ Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee predictions, expert picks & best bets

The defending champion Volunteers have had an, erm, rocky season. The Vols took Game 1 behind star pitcher Liam Doyle and stud outfielder Hunter Ensley, but they collapsed in Game 2 with Marcus Phillips on the bump. The ‘Dores stole eight bases, and head coach Tony Vitello told reporters after the game that Phillips will have to get better at pick-offs or “he’s not going to pitch.”

Phillips’ struggles led to Vitello inserting AJ Russell, who was a candidate to start tonight’s game until that point. It’s unclear who Tennessee will start, and we’ll talk about their best options later, but it is clear that this locker room - and Vitello - are rattled. Tennessee now ranks just 14th in the RPI while Vanderbilt ranks third. We’re backing the ‘Dores at plus-money odds as a result.

🏆 Pick to win Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee: Vanderbilt ML (+150) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Commodores have an advantage on the mound with the tricky Connor Fennell (3.20 ERA) on the bump. What he lacks in pitch velocity, he makes up for with early deliveries, and that has repeatedly thrown off SEC batters this season. Tennessee’s pitchers, aside from star Liam Doyle, haven’t been carrying enough collective weight to justify the Vols’ sizeable advantage on the market.

The numbers suggest Tennessee has an advantage at the plate, but strength of schedule questions come into play here. The Vols may rank sixth in OPS (.990) with the third-most home runs (110), but they’re also 41st by strength of schedule with 17 Quad 4 wins. Vanderbilt’s dreadful 186th-ranked OPS (.799) leaves a lot to be desired, but the ‘Dores are at least third by strength of schedule.

Ultimately, this pick comes down to Tennessee’s mental lapses and Vanderbilt’s ability to capitalize. Vitello is fuming about the team’s inability to prevent steals, and the extra pressure on whoever he puts on the bump, and catcher Cannon Peebles could cause some problems. With no clear Sunday starter for Tennessee, I can’t pass up Vanderbilt at the generous price of +150 (40%)–Tim Corbin has his guys locked in.

📊 Best odds: +150 via DraftKings ($10 to win $15)

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⚾ Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee preview & analysis

🆚 Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee pitching matchup

Vanderbilt: Connor Fennell (5-0, 3.20 ERA)
Tennessee: TBA

After struggling to find a third arm for much of the season, Vanderbilt may have dug up a diamond in Fennell. The New Hampshire native, like head coach Tim Corbin, may not have elite pitch speed, but he has excellent control and delivers his pitches so early in the clock that he has thrown off opposing batters - and has gotten opposing coaches ejected.

Tennessee is yet to announce its starting pitcher for this game, but with Doyle, Phillips, and Russell all having thrown a bunch of innings. Freshman Tegan Kuhns (3.94 ERA), who has a 2-2 record and seven starts, will likely see a few innings; Nate Snead (3.51 ERA) is also fresh. It’s more than likely a bullpen game for the Volunteers - and one that I suspect will go poorly.

📺 How to watch Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee tonight

📅 Date: Sunday, May 11
🕒 Start time: 3 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Lindsey Nelson Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)
📺 TV: ESPN2

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Written By:
Isaiah Sirois

Isaiah Sirois is a Sports Betting Analyst at Sportsbook Review specializing in basketball, motorsports, and football. He uses a wide variety of analytical tools to identify value on event-specific markets, and you can always find his columns stuffed to the brim with data. Basketball is Isaiah’s favorite sport to handicap, and he has covered NBA, WNBA, NCAA, Olympic, and FIBA markets for Sportsbook Review and other sites. However, Isaiah’s favorite sport to follow is auto racing, and you can usually find him watching NASCAR or IndyCar most weekends. He will be a fan of Team Penske and Ford Performance until the end of time. Isaiah graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and is currently attending Vanderbilt Law School.