JessN: Vandy @ Bama Game Preview: On paper, Commodores may be SEC's top team, but is the paper correct?

[JessN]

Vanderbilt @ Bama Game Preview:
On paper, Commodores may be SEC’s top team. But is the paper correct?
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief

There are so many reality-warping factors to this game – Alabama is looking for revenge from 2024; Vanderbilt is statistically the most solid of all 16 SEC programs after Week 5 – that you would be excused if you wound up watching this game while in a complete state of bewilderment.

For those who think TideFans.com has a Bama bias in any of our analysis articles, brace yourselves. We have looked at this one from every angle possible, and most of the talk asking whether Vanderbilt’s on-paper advantages are legitimate or not are being answered in the affirmative at this time. How the Commodore program got here, we can’t immediately say, but this may end up being one of the closest games Alabama plays all year long. Vanderbilt is a legit contender, and we’re not talking about just whether the ‘Dores can win this particular game. In the spirit of Jim Mora, we’re talking about playoffs.

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• Projected Bama Depth Chart vs Vandy

TideFans.com | By the Fans, For the Fans. - Vanderbilt preview: On paper, Commodores may be SEC’s top team. But is the paper correct?

There are so many reality-warping factors to this game – Alabama is looking for revenge from 2024; Vanderbilt is statistically the most solid of all 16 SEC programs after Week 5 – that you would be…

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[rtr90]

final margin seems large considering individual matchups

 

[dabamafan]

Thank you Jess. I'll take things that make you go Hmmmmm, for a million.

 

[PGDocBama]

According to this, we have very little shot. I don't believe the matchups but what do I know?

 

[mikeua69]

I still think we win by 10-14 points

 

[BamaDMD]

I’ll be honest. This Vanderbilt team scares me a lot. I get the same feeling I got when we first faced Johnny Manzell. I hope we keep mistakes to minimum and our defense plays disciplined.

 

[CB4]

Thanks Jess. I think Vandy isn’t quite “who we think they are”….yet. And they may very well prove me wrong. But….

I think the credit they get primarily for wins over Va Tech and USCe is overstated. Va Tech was a discombobulated mess under Pry. USC goes as far LaNorris Sellers at QB can take them. After he went out in the 2nd quarter with the concussion, the wheels came off, turning the ball over like crazy.

My eyeball test says they are good, but not what we think. If we play the way we SHOULD, we win this by 14 or more.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

GOT-TOE-MIGHTY!!!! They lead in SIX categories and Jess is picking US TO WIN? LOL! Just for reverse psychology purposes, I wish JessN would have picked Vandy to win! LOL!

 

[bamadwain]

I'll be 64 in a few weeks, never thought I'd see a lot that goes on in this world, but Vandy leading in 6 category, I guess it did freeze over!

 

[CrimSonami]

I’m okay with the analysis. It’s realistic. And if we win the TO Battle I’ll be surprised if Vandy reaches the 30 point threshold. Just hope this weeks practice has been concentrating on Pavia containment.

 

[December05]

I can’t buy going with the road QB with the louder mouth and turnover habit over the humble yet confident home QB who protects the ball, has wheels when he needs them and can hit windows Pavia can’t even see. Plus a far better bench? As the guys on that ESPN show used to say: “C’mon, man!”

My main concern is outside run contain and that stupid shovel pass that our MLBs will have to key on. I’m all for prioritizing run stop ability over pass coverage on the back end this week on likely run downs. Is Lee’s size a benefit over Domani’s overall distaste for the fact that offenses like to run sometimes? We know Dre has enough of his dad in him that he likes to hit. Maybe put him at nickel/in the slot more often? Move Bray up closer to the line/stunt or blitz more often? We know they’re going to want to run more than pass, and we better defend them that way.

 

[rtr90]

Man I miss our NOT year.

Maybe we can get some INT

 

[NorthernTide]

We are more "battle-tested" as I believe we've both played 2 cupcakes so then FSU and Georgia are better teams than uSC and VT. It will start close but we steadily pull away! Roll Tide!