Drew, Vanderbilt set to stop ugly ATS slump

In a year or two, Bryce Drew will coach Vanderbilt up the Southeastern Conference ladder. Drew is proving to be a strong recruiter. But for now, the Commodores are singing “Brick House” and stuck in the basement.

Vanderbilt (6-12) has been college basketball’s worst bet this season at 1-13-1 against the spread. It got ugly a week ago, when Riley LaChance stepped to the line and missed three free throws in the last minute of a loss to Kentucky. What were the odds? Slim. LaChance entered the game as an 89-percent free-throw shooter.

The Commodores, back home in Nashville, have a good shot for a bounce-back win as 1-point favorites against Louisiana State. Look for seniors Jeff Roberson and Matthew Fisher-Davis to lead Vanderbilt to a rare cover.

There are 111 games on the betting board Saturday … make that 110. Due to the government shutdown, the Fresno State-Air Force game at the Academy has been cancelled.

Eight plays for today (rotation numbers listed):
526-HOUSTON (plus-3½) over Wichita State; 540-VANDERBILT (-1) over LSU; 584-STANFORD (plus-5½) over Arizona; 611-UNLV (-4) over COLORADO STATE; 671-San Diego (plus-11) over BRIGHAM YOUNG; 688-OREGON (-3½) over UCLA; 694-HAWAII (-3) over UC Davis; 736-MONTANA STATE (plus-7) over Montana.