Georgia Bulldogs vs Vanderbilt Commodores Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

Georgia, Vanderbilt Tangle With Chance to Prove Tourney Credentials

Georgia and Vanderbilt enter Saturday’s SEC showdown in Athens, Ga., with NCAA Tournament hopes on the line.

For Georgia (19-11, 7-10 SEC), the goal is simple: secure a senior day victory and strengthen its tournament résumé as the Bulldogs look to end a decade-long NCAA Tournament drought.

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt (20-10, 8-9 SEC) aims to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to Arkansas, as the Commodores continue to push for their first tournament bid since 2017.

Explore in-depth analysis and data-driven predictions revealing which teams hold the best chances for the college basketball title.

Georgia Making a Late Push for NCAA Bid

The Bulldogs have been heating up at the right time, winning three straight games to move safely into the NCAA Tournament field—at least for now.

As of Friday’s CBS Sports bracketology update, Georgia was projected as a 10-seed, comfortably outside the “Last Four In” category.

However, a win against Vanderbilt would go a long way toward solidifying Georgia’s tournament position and avoiding any late-season bubble trouble.

Georgia avoided a potentially costly loss Tuesday, pulling away late to beat South Carolina 73-64 on the road.

While there is plenty of tournament talk surrounding the Bulldogs, head coach Mike White wants his team focused only on Vanderbilt.

“We just can’t worry about that stuff,” White said of bracket projections. “We’re appreciative that we’re getting positive accolades and attention, because our guys have earned that with their play. … We know we have a huge opportunity Saturday against a Vanderbilt team that’s had a wonderful year.”

Asa Newell Leading Georgia’s Resurgence

Freshman Asa Newell, a projected first-round NBA Draft pick, has been the key to Georgia’s late-season surge.

Newell leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 15.1 points per game, while Silas Demary Jr. adds 13.0 points per contest and Dakota Leffew contributes 9.7 per game.

With Newell playing at a high level and Georgia’s defense stepping up, the Bulldogs have momentum heading into their regular-season finale.

Vanderbilt Looking to Bounce Back After Loss to Arkansas

While Vanderbilt has positioned itself for an NCAA Tournament bid, the Commodores are coming off a frustrating 90-77 home loss to Arkansas on Tuesday.

In that game, Vanderbilt shot just 38.3% from the field, and its leading scorer, Jason Edwards (16.7 PPG), had a brutal 0-for-12 night.

Head coach Mark Byington was blunt in assessing the loss.

“We just weren’t right tonight,” Byington said. “We’ve got to own it, and we’ve got to fix it. We know it’s not going to get any easier on the road against a tough Georgia team that’s probably one of the hottest teams in the league.”

Despite the setback, Vanderbilt still owns victories over five Top 25 teams and carries a NET ranking of 44—keeping it in good position for a tournament berth.

Beyond Edwards (16.7 PPG), Vanderbilt’s balanced attack includes Devin McGlockton (10.5 PPG) and Tyler Nickel (10.5 PPG), giving the Commodores plenty of firepower if they can shake off Tuesday’s poor shooting performance.

Explore comprehensive insights and odds predictions for the John Wooden Award, detailing top contenders and emerging trends.

What’s at Stake?

For Georgia, a win could lock up an NCAA Tournament spot, while a loss could put more pressure on the Bulldogs heading into the SEC Tournament.

For Vanderbilt, this game provides a prime opportunity to add another quality road win to its résumé before Selection Sunday.

With both teams hungry for a statement victory, expect a high-intensity battle in Athens as Georgia and Vanderbilt fight to solidify their March Madness fates.