The Vanderbilt Commodores showed at times they could play with anyone this year, losing by just five at Notre Dame, 10 to Florida and seven at Kentucky.
Three college football bowl games on Thursday, Dec. 27, and the late one features Baylor, with what should be a significant fan advantage, against Vanderbilt in the Texas Bowl from Houston.
Texas Bowl Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 3 Dec 3:06pm | BAY | -6 -110 | O +55 -110 |
| Closing 27 Dec 5:18pm | BAY | -4 -110 | O +56 -110 |
The Texas Bowl has been in existence since 2006 and generally tries to get a team from the Lone Star State in the game for obvious reasons. It’s the second trip to the bowl game for the Big 12’s Baylor, which lost in 2010 to Illinois, 38-24.
Coach Matt Rhule has worked a minor miracle in his second year at Baylor as that program was decimated in the wake of a sexual assault scandal that forced out former coach Art Briles along with several higher-ups in the administration. Rhule has done so well that NFL teams are eyeing him.
Reaching a bowl game might have saved the job of Vandy coach Derek Mason. He’s at such a recruiting disadvantage in the SEC with Vandy having by far the toughest academic requirements. The Commodores haven’t won a bowl game since 2013 under former Coach James Franklin, who is now at Penn State.
Baylor is 2-0 vs. Vanderbilt all-time, winning games in 1953-54.
Baylor Bears
Baylor got bowl eligible by closing the regular season with a 35-24 win over Texas Tech after going 1-11 in 2017. Sophomore quarterback Charlie Brewer has thrown for 2,635 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for six scores. However, he will be without his top receiver in Jalen Hurd due to a knee injury and surgery. Hurd, the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year and transfer from Tennessee, caught 69 passes for 946 yards and four scores. In addition, punter Drew Galitz tore his ACL in the finale against Texas Tech. Baylor has played just six total games against SEC teams (not since 1995), going 3-3.
Vanderbilt Commodores
Mason’s head coaching debut at Vanderbilt was in 2014 when he faced off against Rhule’s Temple Owls, who rolled to a 37-7 win. Vandy had to win its final two games this year to get bowl eligible, both at home, and did: 36-29 in overtime over Ole Miss and 38-13 over Tennessee – which had the added benefit of keeping the rival Vols from bowl eligibility. The Commodores showed at times they could play with anyone this year, losing by just five at Notre Dame, 10 to Florida and seven at Kentucky. QB Kyle Shurmur has thrown for 2,844 yards and 23 touchdowns and running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, an Illinois transfer, has 1,001 yards rushing and 10 TDs. Shurmur needs 118 yards to pass Jay Cutler as Vanderbilt’s leader in career passing yards. Vandy last played a Big 12 team in 2017, beating Kansas State 14-7.
Injuries
Drew Galitz (P)
Jalen Hurd (WR)
JaMycal Hasty (RB)
Greg Roberts (DE)
Jared Atkinson (WR)
Harrison Hand (CB)
Deonte Williams (DE)
Charlie Brewer (QB)
John Lovett (RB)
Grayland Arnold (CB)
Donovan Sheffield (CB)
Ladarius Wiley (S)
Zaire Jones (S)
Sam Dobbs (TE)
Charles Wright (LB)
Louis Vecchio (DL)
Ke'Shawn Vaughn (RB)
Jared Pinkney (TE)
Colin Anderson (LB)
Egidio DellaRipa (OL)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Galitz (P) | out for season | Knee - 03 / 12 / 18 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Galitz tore his ACL and will miss the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against Vanderbilt. |
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| Jalen Hurd (WR) | Out Thurs | Knee - 03 / 12 / 18 | 1-0 | 0-1 | + - |
|
Hurd is bothered by a knee injury and will not be available for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against Vanderbilt. |
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| JaMycal Hasty (RB) | Ques Sat | Knee - 19 / 11 / 18 | 1-1 | 0-2 | + - |
|
Hasty missed the last game with a knee issue and has uncertain status Saturday against Texas Tech. |
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| Greg Roberts (DE) | Ques Sat | Suspension - 11 / 11 / 18 | 2-1 | 0-3 | + - |
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Roberts was involved in an altercation during the last game and has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's contest against TCU. His status for the second half is unknown. |
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| Jared Atkinson (WR) | out for season | Redshirt - 05 / 11 / 18 | 3-1 | 0-4 | + - |
|
Atkinson is expected to sit out the remainder of the season, preserving his redshirt that will count towards an extra year of eligibility. |
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| Harrison Hand (CB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 22 / 10 / 18 | 4-2 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Hand was held out of the previous two games due to an unspecified injury and it is uncertain if he will play Saturday against Iowa State. |
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| Deonte Williams (DE) | out for season | Arm - 16 / 10 / 18 | 4-2 | 1-5 | + - |
|
Williams is sidelined with an arm injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2018 season. |
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| Charlie Brewer (QB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 01 / 10 / 18 | - | - | + - |
|
Brewer is battling an undefined injury and it is uncertain if he will suit up against Kansas State on Saturday. |
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| John Lovett (RB) | Prob Sat | Concussion - 01 / 10 / 18 | - | - | + - |
|
Lovett missed the last game undergoing the NCAA's concussion protocol but will likely be cleared in time for Saturday against Texas. |
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| Grayland Arnold (CB) | Out indefinitely | Ankle - 30 / 09 / 18 | - | - | + - |
|
Arnold has been sidelined by an ankle injury and it is unknown when he will return to the lineup. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donovan Sheffield (CB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 11 / 11 / 18 | 3-0 | 0-3 | + - |
|
Sheffield has an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will suit up against Ole Miss on Saturday. |
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| Ladarius Wiley (S) | Ques Sat | Personal - 08 / 11 / 18 | 4-0 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Wiley is dealing with a personal matter and it is unclear if he will be available for Saturday's game against Missouri. |
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| Zaire Jones (S) | out for season | Suspension - 06 / 11 / 18 | 4-0 | 1-3 | + - |
|
Jones has been issued a season-ending suspension for violating team rules. |
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| Sam Dobbs (TE) | Ques Sat | Leg - 21 / 10 / 18 | 5-0 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Dobbs missed the last game nursing a leg injury and it is uncertain if he will suit up against Missouri on Saturday. |
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| Charles Wright (LB) | Ques Thurs | Leg - 21 / 10 / 18 | 5-0 | 1-4 | + - |
|
Wright has missed the last four games with a leg injury and his availability is unclear for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against Baylor. |
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| Louis Vecchio (DL) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 14 / 10 / 18 | 5-1 | 2-4 | + - |
|
Vecchio has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play against Kentucky on Saturday. |
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| Ke'Shawn Vaughn (RB) | Prob Sat | Concussion - 13 / 10 / 18 | 5-2 | 2-5 | + - |
|
Vaughn missed the last game with concussion-like symptoms but is likely to be available Saturday against Arkansas. |
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| Jared Pinkney (TE) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 07 / 10 / 18 | 5-2 | 2-5 | + - |
|
Pinkney has an undefined injury and it is unclear if he will play against Florida on Saturday. |
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| Colin Anderson (LB) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 06 / 10 / 18 | - | - | + - |
|
Anderson is dealing with an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will play Saturday against Georgia. |
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| Egidio DellaRipa (OL) | Ques Sat | Undisclosed - 06 / 10 / 18 | - | - | + - |
|
DellaRipa missed the last three games for unknown reasons and his status Saturday against Arkansas is in question. |
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Bears vs. Commodores Prediction
-
BEARS
27 -
COMMODORES
34
Score
Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 3 Dec 3:06pm BAY -6 -110 O +55 -110 Closing 27 Dec 5:18pm BAY -4 -110 O +56 -110 -
Injuries
Drew Galitz (P)
out for season Knee - 03 / 12 / 18Jalen Hurd (WR)
Out Thurs Knee - 03 / 12 / 18JaMycal Hasty (RB)
Ques Sat Knee - 19 / 11 / 18Greg Roberts (DE)
Ques Sat Suspension - 11 / 11 / 18Jared Atkinson (WR)
out for season Redshirt - 05 / 11 / 18Harrison Hand (CB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 22 / 10 / 18Deonte Williams (DE)
out for season Arm - 16 / 10 / 18Charlie Brewer (QB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 01 / 10 / 18John Lovett (RB)
Prob Sat Concussion - 01 / 10 / 18Grayland Arnold (CB)
Out indefinitely Ankle - 30 / 09 / 18Donovan Sheffield (CB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 11 / 11 / 18Ladarius Wiley (S)
Ques Sat Personal - 08 / 11 / 18Zaire Jones (S)
out for season Suspension - 06 / 11 / 18Sam Dobbs (TE)
Ques Sat Leg - 21 / 10 / 18Charles Wright (LB)
Ques Thurs Leg - 21 / 10 / 18Louis Vecchio (DL)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 10 / 18Ke'Shawn Vaughn (RB)
Prob Sat Concussion - 13 / 10 / 18Jared Pinkney (TE)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 07 / 10 / 18Colin Anderson (LB)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 06 / 10 / 18Egidio DellaRipa (OL)
Ques Sat Undisclosed - 06 / 10 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Drew Galitz (P) out for season Knee - 03 / 12 / 18 1-0 0-1 + - Galitz tore his ACL and will miss the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against Vanderbilt.
Jalen Hurd (WR) Out Thurs Knee - 03 / 12 / 18 1-0 0-1 + - Hurd is bothered by a knee injury and will not be available for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against Vanderbilt.
JaMycal Hasty (RB) Ques Sat Knee - 19 / 11 / 18 1-1 0-2 + - Hasty missed the last game with a knee issue and has uncertain status Saturday against Texas Tech.
Greg Roberts (DE) Ques Sat Suspension - 11 / 11 / 18 2-1 0-3 + - Roberts was involved in an altercation during the last game and has been suspended for the first half of Saturday's contest against TCU. His status for the second half is unknown.
Jared Atkinson (WR) out for season Redshirt - 05 / 11 / 18 3-1 0-4 + - Atkinson is expected to sit out the remainder of the season, preserving his redshirt that will count towards an extra year of eligibility.
Harrison Hand (CB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 22 / 10 / 18 4-2 1-5 + - Hand was held out of the previous two games due to an unspecified injury and it is uncertain if he will play Saturday against Iowa State.
Deonte Williams (DE) out for season Arm - 16 / 10 / 18 4-2 1-5 + - Williams is sidelined with an arm injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2018 season.
Charlie Brewer (QB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 01 / 10 / 18 - - + - Brewer is battling an undefined injury and it is uncertain if he will suit up against Kansas State on Saturday.
John Lovett (RB) Prob Sat Concussion - 01 / 10 / 18 - - + - Lovett missed the last game undergoing the NCAA's concussion protocol but will likely be cleared in time for Saturday against Texas.
Grayland Arnold (CB) Out indefinitely Ankle - 30 / 09 / 18 - - + - Arnold has been sidelined by an ankle injury and it is unknown when he will return to the lineup.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Donovan Sheffield (CB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 11 / 11 / 18 3-0 0-3 + - Sheffield has an undefined injury and it is unknown if he will suit up against Ole Miss on Saturday.
Ladarius Wiley (S) Ques Sat Personal - 08 / 11 / 18 4-0 1-3 + - Wiley is dealing with a personal matter and it is unclear if he will be available for Saturday's game against Missouri.
Zaire Jones (S) out for season Suspension - 06 / 11 / 18 4-0 1-3 + - Jones has been issued a season-ending suspension for violating team rules.
Sam Dobbs (TE) Ques Sat Leg - 21 / 10 / 18 5-0 1-4 + - Dobbs missed the last game nursing a leg injury and it is uncertain if he will suit up against Missouri on Saturday.
Charles Wright (LB) Ques Thurs Leg - 21 / 10 / 18 5-0 1-4 + - Wright has missed the last four games with a leg injury and his availability is unclear for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl against Baylor.
Louis Vecchio (DL) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 14 / 10 / 18 5-1 2-4 + - Vecchio has an unspecified injury and it is unclear if he will play against Kentucky on Saturday.
Ke'Shawn Vaughn (RB) Prob Sat Concussion - 13 / 10 / 18 5-2 2-5 + - Vaughn missed the last game with concussion-like symptoms but is likely to be available Saturday against Arkansas.
Jared Pinkney (TE) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 07 / 10 / 18 5-2 2-5 + - Pinkney has an undefined injury and it is unclear if he will play against Florida on Saturday.
Colin Anderson (LB) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 06 / 10 / 18 - - + - Anderson is dealing with an unspecified injury and it is unknown if he will play Saturday against Georgia.
Egidio DellaRipa (OL) Ques Sat Undisclosed - 06 / 10 / 18 - - + - DellaRipa missed the last three games for unknown reasons and his status Saturday against Arkansas is in question.