Georgia Bulldogs at Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt wraps up its regular-season home slate at Memorial Gymnasium tonight, but they welcome a surging Georgia squad that just proved they can win in the SEC's toughest environments. Laying 8.5 points against the nation's fourth-highest scoring offense is a dangerous proposition. Georgia averages 90.2 points per game by relentlessly attacking the rim and pushing the pace, leading the country with 20.9 fastbreak points per contest. Their offensive floor is remarkably stable; they have scored 40 or more points in 41 of their 54 halves this season. Even in the half-court, they are highly efficient inside, feeding center Somto Cyril who is shooting 74.6% from the floor. Furthermore, their second unit does not surrender leads, thanks to freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson pouring in 17.3 points per game off the bench to keep the pressure on opposing defenses. Vanderbilt is trending in the wrong direction, sitting at 2-3 over their last five games. While getting Duke Miles and his 16.4 points per game back from a month-long absence is a positive, reintegrating a high-usage guard disrupted their flow in their recent 69-65 loss to Tennessee, resulting in a 10-minute scoring drought. You simply cannot afford extended dry spells against a Georgia team that keeps the scoreboard moving for 40 minutes. The spread is asking too much of a Commodores offense that is still re-establishing its rhythm. I will gladly take the 8.5 points with a deep, high-powered Bulldogs squad coming off outright wins over Texas and Kentucky.