Anchor Drop, January 4, 2020: Closing out nonconference play

Good morning.

The Vanderbilt men’s basketball team closes out its nonconference schedule tonight at 8:00 PM CT when the Commodores host the SMU Mustangs at Memorial Gym. The game will be televised on the SEC Network. Of note: a win would equal Vanderbilt’s win total for the 2018-19 season. (Of course, Vanderbilt won its ninth game last season on December 31.)

Tim Corbin was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday. It’s about freaking time with that one.

Vanderbilt swimming went 1-for-3 at the Quad Meet on Friday, beating North Florida on the heels of losses to Florida and Liberty.

VandySports has a new podcast with Chris Lee and Seabass (full disclosure: I haven’t listened to this one yet.)

Simon Gibbs at the Hustler writes about associate head coach David Grace finding his home at Memorial Gym.

Bad Gambling Advice

Season to date: 57-54-2 ATS, 65-47-1 totals

LSU at Tennessee (11:00 AM CT, ESPNU): Tennessee +1, Over 137.5

Georgia at Memphis (12:00 PM CT, CBS): Georgia +9, Over 153.5

Missouri at Kentucky (1:00 PM CT, SEC Network): Missouri +8, Under 125.5

Ole Miss at Wichita State (3:00 PM CT, ESPNU): Wichita State -8, Under 139.5

Auburn at Mississippi State (3:30 PM CT, SEC Network): Mississippi State +1.5, Over 138

Alabama at Florida (5:00 PM CT, ESPN2): Alabama +7.5, Under 150

Texas A&M at Arkansas (6:00 PM CT, SEC Network): Arkansas -14, Under 127.5

SMU at Vanderbilt (8:00 PM CT, SEC Network): Vanderbilt +1.5, Under 147

What to Watch Today (Other than the Vanderbilt Game)

Well, if the SEC basketball schedule listed above isn’t enough for you? I guess you could watch the NFL Playoffs, I don’t know. The first game of the Wild Card round matches the Bills against the Texans (3:35 PM CT, ESPN/ABC), and that’s followed by the Titans at the Patriots (7:15 PM CT, CBS) and ... ewwww, gross, I just realized some of y’all are going to be watching that instead of the Vanderbilt game.

Here’s today’s college basketball schedule, via ESPN. Highlights outside of the SEC include Florida State-Louisville (1:00 PM CT, ESPN2); Iowa-Penn State (1:00 PM CT, BTN, and no I’m not kidding, those are both Top 25 teams); West Virginia-Kansas (3:00 PM CT, ESPN+); and, if you get the Pac-12 Network, Arizona State-Arizona at 8:30 PM CT with Bill Walton doing color.

And at 10:30 AM CT on ESPN, Southern Miss battles Tulane in the Armed Forces Bowl. The Golf Channel has live coverage of the PGA Tour’s Sentry Tournament of Champions.

Scoreboard

NBA: Magic 105, Heat 85 ... Trail Blazers 122, Wizards 103 ... Celtics 109, Hawks 106 ... Rockets 118, 76ers 108 ... Suns 120, Knicks 112 ... Lakers 123, Pelicans 113.

NHL: Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3 ... Stars 4, Red Wings 1.

PGA Tour: Xander Schauffele, last year’s winner at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui, shot a 5-under par 68 to take a one-shot lead into the weekend.