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Steve’s Summer Size-Up: No. 4, Vanderbilt Commodores
Throughout the summer,we will be analyzing each of Ole Miss’ 12 opponents for the 2015 season and sizing up how difficult the game will be in relationship to the strength of schedule.
We will take the teams in order of meeting date in an attempt to better inform our fanbase what to realistically anticipate going into this new season.
Opponent No. 4: Vanderbilt Commodores, Sept. 26
- SEC East member
- 2014 record 3-9 Difficulty Ranking: 9th
- Head Coach: Derek Mason (3-9; second year)
- Colors: black and gold
- Vanderbilt Stadium capacity 40,000
- Versus Ole Miss in 2014: Lost 41-3
Forecast: The week after Alabama this is the type of opponent you would like to have especially at home. Because Vandy is projected to be once again a last place team, the chances of this being the SEC morning game are very good. Vandy is definitely a team in transition with new coordinators on both sides of the ball. The good news is they return 17 starters; the bad news is they return 17 starters. Outside of Ralph Webb, sensational redshirt freshman RB last season who rushed for 912 yards, the talent pool is low! The QB slot is still up for grabs as Johnny McCrary and Wade Freebeck are the leading candidates. Vandy’s offense in eight SEC games a year ago only scored nine offensive TD’s, not a stat that will place fear in any of their opposing defensive units. And another concern, their defense allowed a league high (7.6 yards per passing attempt) with only six interceptions. It gets even worse as Vandy was dead last in the SEC in punting.
Conclusion: This one should definitely be the Rebs’ easiest SEC opponent by far. Look for a huge favorite point prediction of at least 28. Vandy hosts Georgia on Sept. 12 which will provide some indication of what to expect. This was the most one-sided road win for Ole Miss in 2014 (38 points) and should give the Ole Miss coaches an opportunity to play a lot of younger talent this time as well. Assuming we got the Alabama prediction correct last week, Ole Miss will remain undefeated in SEC play as they “steamroll” the Commodores. Any upset here is unthinkable.
Our score prediction: Ole Miss 48, Vanderbilt 0 (4-0; 2-0 in SEC)
Next Week: at Florida
Previous Weeks:
Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. Currently, Steve is a highly successful leader in the real estate business who lives in Oxford with his wife Rosie. You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at 985-852-7745.
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | W, 28-10 |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | L, 24-17 |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | W, 26-14 |
| Thu, Jan 2 |  | vs Duke (Gator Bowl) | 6:30 PM • ESPN |
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | 11:00 AM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | 5:00 PM SECN |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | 8:00 PM ESPN2 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | 3:00 PM TBA |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | 6:00 PM ESPN |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |