45.6 F
Oxford

Daniels: SEC Team Projection – Vanderbilt

Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt.edu
Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt.edu

After coming off of a tough season with no wins in the SEC, the Vanderbilt Commodores will look to bounce back and improve even if it means no post-season again this year.

Derek Mason is now taking over as the defensive coordinator, and I think that will help the Commodores, but it will take some time. Last season, the Commodores tried out many different quarterbacks, but this year I think they will go with Johnny McCrary, who I believe is capable of competing. Ralph Webb will definitely help Vanderbilt when they need to lean on something other than the quarterback spot. Here’s my prediction:

September 3 vs. Western Kentucky, L 34-45: Right out of the gates, Vanderbilt will be hit with a tough test against the Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky brings one of the best offenses in the country along with Brandon Doughty, who one of the best taking snaps. I do not think that Vanderbilt can slow down the Western Kentucky offense, and it will tough to match them on the offensive side. A tough way to start out the season for the Commodores.

September 12 vs. Georgia, L 7-34: Vanderbilt will be in the spotlight of CBS at 2:30 p.m. as they try to spoil the Bulldogs’ hopes of an SEC Championship berth. If this one gets out of hands for the Commodores, Coach Mason will probably give Wade Freebeck a drive or two and see how he does. With Nick Chubb returning for Georgia, I just do not know how long the Commodores can go without getting fatigued, as Georgia will run it almost every play.

September 19 vs. Austin Peay, W 42-3: This one should be very laid back for Mason and the Commodores as they really should not have any problems with the Governors. Coach Mason will just focus on getting an early lead and then letting some guys get playing time who usually would not.

September 26 at Ole Miss, L 3-48: Vanderbilt will come into Oxford after their first win, but they won’t have the same fate here — unable to pull the upset. Tommy Openshaw will split one through the uprights for the Commodores’ only points.

October 3 at Middle Tennessee, W 38-15: Vanderbilt will head out of Oxford and head to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, about 30 miles south of Nashville, where they will face Middle Tennessee. Vanderbilt should rebound, and I think they will grab a win on the road. Ralph Webb will have a day in this one, as I expect him to put up some numbers in this game.

October 17 at South Carolina, L 21-34: I’m giving Vanderbilt a chance to win this ballgame because of how poor the Gamecocks defense is, but it will be difficult at William-Brice. The Commodores will put up three touchdowns, but the defense will struggle against a good South Carolina offense.

October 24 vs. Missouri, L 17-21: Vanderbilt will head back to Nashville, where they will face back to back SEC East Champions, the Missouri Tigers. I’m going to give Vanderbilt a chance in this one because of the close game between these two last season, and all Vanderbilt could have done over the offense was improve. Vanderbilt will come very close to the first SEC win under Derek Mason, but it will have to wait.

October 31 at Houston, W 49-34: Expect some points as the Commodores head to Houston and face the Cougars. Vanderbilt will come in and expect McCrary to throw the football and Derek Mason will let the offense go. Vanderbilt did top off Houston in their last bowl appearance with a 41-24 win at the BBVA Compass Bowl.

November 7 at Florida, L 10-34: Vanderbilt heads to Gainesville, where they will face Jim McElwain and the Florida Gators. I think that they will once again struggle to move the football against SEC opponents. Geoff Collins will really shut down this offense and give the Gators a relaxed win.

November 14 vs. Kentucky, L 14-37: A loss here would make Vanderbilt ineligible for post-season play for the second year under Derek Mason. It’s going to happen. Kentucky’s offense is much better than the Commodores’, and I don’t see Vanderbilt winning this game against an improved Wildcats’ team.

November 21 vs. Texas A&M, L 17-44: This is not a good match for that Commodores. Texas A&M has a lot of speed on the outside at receiver. This should be an improved Aggie defense with John Chavis stepping in at defensive coordinator. We may see Darrius Sims find some open field and return a kickoff for six.

November 28 at Tennessee, L 19-29: There’s a lot of hype coming out of Knoxville, and whether the Vols live up to it or not, I think that they will outmatch Vanderbilt. It will be another winless SEC season for Vanderbilt.

2015 Projection: Vanderbilt: 3-9, 0-8 SEC; 7th SEC East


Grant DanielsGrant Daniels, a student at Oxford High School, is sports correspondent for HottyToddy.com. Email him at hottytoddynews@gmail.com

Most Popular

Recent Comments

scamasdscamith on News Watch Ole Miss
Frances Phillips on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Grace Hudditon on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Millie Johnston on A Bigger, Better Student Union
Binary options + Bitcoin = $ 1643 per week: https://8000-usd-per-day.blogspot.com.tr?b=46 on Beta Upsilon Chi: A Christian Brotherhood
Jay Mitchell on Reflections: The Square
Terry Wilcox SFCV USA RET on Oxford's Five Guys Announces Opening Date
Stephanie on Throwback Summer
organized religion is mans downfall on VP of Palmer Home Devotes Life to Finding Homes for Children
Paige Williams on Boyer: Best 10 Books of 2018
Keith mansel on Cleveland On Medgar Evans
Debbie Nader McManus on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: The Last of His Kind
Richard Burns on A William Faulkner Sighting
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Bettye H. Galloway on Galloway: Faulkner's Small World
Ruby Begonia on Family Catching Rebel Fever
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
Greg Millar on The Hoka
jeff the busy eater on Cooking With Kimme: Baked Brie
Travis Yarborough on Reflections: The Square
BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH on Oxford is About to Receive a Sweet Treat
baby travel systems australia on Heaton: 8 Southern Ways to Heckle in SEC Baseball
Rajka Radenkovich on Eating Oxford: Restaurant Watch
Richard Burns on Reflections: The Square
Guillermo Perez Arguello on Mississippi Quote Of The Day
A Friend with a Heavy Heart on Remembering Dr. Stacy Davidson
Harold M. "Hal" Frost, Ph.D. on UM Physical Acoustics Research Center Turns 30
Educated Citizen on Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving
Debbie Crenshaw on Trump’s Tough Road Ahead
Treadway Strickland on Wicker Looks Ahead to New Congress
Tony Ryals on parking
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Heather Lee Hitchcock on ‘Pray for Oxford’ by Shane Brown
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
Dr Donald and Priscilla Powell on Deadly Plane Crash Leaves Eleven Children Behind
C. Scott Fischer on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Sylvia Williams on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Will Patterson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
Rick Henderson on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
George L Price on I Stand With Coach Hugh Freeze
on
Morgan Shands on Cleveland: On Ed Reed
Richard McGraw on Cleveland: On Cissye Gallagher
Branan Southerland on Gameday RV Parking at HottyToddy.com
Tom and Randa Baddley on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
26 years and continuously learning on Ole Miss Puts History In Context With Plaque
a Paterson on Beyond Barton v. Barnett
Phil Higginbotham on ‘Unpublished’ by Shane Brown
Bettina Willie@www.yahoo.com.102Martinez St.Batesville,Ms.38606 on Bomb Threat: South Panola High School Evacuated This Morning
Anita M Fellenz, (Emilly Hoffman's CA grandmother on Ole Miss Spirit Groups Rank High in National Finals
Marilyn Moore Hughes on Vassallo: Ole Miss Alum Finds His Niche
Jaqundacotten@gmail williams on HottyToddy Hometown: Hollandale, Mississippi
Finney moore on Can Ole Miss Grow Too Big?
diane faulkner cawlley on Oxford’s Olden Days: Miss Annie’s Yard
Phil Higginbotham on ‘November 24’ by Shane Brown
Maralyn Bullion on Neely-Dorsey: Hog Killing Time
Beth Carr on A Letter To Mom
Becky on A Letter To Mom
Marilyn Tinnnin on A Letter To Mom
Roger ulmer on UM Takes Down State Flag
Chris Pool on UM Takes Down State Flag
TampaRebel on UM Takes Down State Flag
david smith on UM Takes Down State Flag
Boyd Harris on UM Takes Down State Flag
Jim (Herc @ UM) on Cleveland: Fall Vacations
Robert Hollingsworth on Rebels on the Road: Memphis Eateries
David McCullough on Shepard Leaves Ole Miss Football
Gayle G. Henry on Meet Your 2015 Miss Ole Miss
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Neely-Dorsey: Elvis Presley’s Big Homecoming
Jennifer Mooneyham on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Wes McIngvale on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
BARRY MCCAMMON on Ole Miss Defeats Alabama
Laughing out Loud on ESPN: Ole Miss No. 1 in Nation
Dr.Bill Priester on Cleveland: On Bob Priester
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
A woman who has no WHITE PRIVILEGE on Oxford Removes Mississippi Flag from City Property
paulette holmes langbecker on Cofield on Oxford – Rising Ole Miss Rookie
Ruth Shipp Yarbrough on Cofield on Oxford — Lest We Forget
Karllen Smith on ‘Rilee’ by Shane Brown
Jean Baker Pinion on ‘The Cool Pad’ by Shane Brown
Janet Hollingsworth (Cavanaugh) on John Cofield on Oxford: A Beacon
Proud Mississippi Voter on Gunn Calls for Change in Mississippi Flag
Deloris Brown-Thompson on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Sue Ellen Parker Stubbs on Bebe’s Letters: A WWII Love Story
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Tim Heaton on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Karen fowler on Heaton: Who is Southern?
Don't Go to Law School on Four Legal Rebels Rising in the Real World
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
bernadette on Feeding the Blues
Joanne and Mark Wilkinson on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Mary Ellen (Dring) Gamble on Ron Vernon: a Fellowship of Music
Cyndy Carroll on Filming it Up in Mississippi
Dottie Dewberry on Top 10 Secret Southern Sayings
Brother Everett Childers on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Mark McElreath on ‘The Shack’ by Shane Brown
Bill Wilkes, UM '57, '58, '63 on A Letter from Chancellor Dan Jones
Sandra Caffey Neal on Mississippi Has Proud Irish Heritage
Teresa Enyeart, and Terry Enyeat on Death of Ole Miss Grad, U.S. Vet Stuns Rebel Nation
P. D. Fyke on Wells: Steelhead Run
Johnny Neumann on Freeze Staying with Rebels
Maralyn Bullion on On Cooking Southern: Chess Pie
Kaye Bryant on Henry: E. for Congress
charles Eichorn on Hotty Tamales, Gosh Almighty
Jack of All Trades on Roll Over Bear Bryant
w nadler on Roll Over Bear Bryant
Stacey Berryhill on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
John Appleton on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Charlotte Lamb on Grovin' Gameday Memories
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on Two True Mississippi Icons
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Morgan Williamson on A College Education is a MUST
Jeanette Berryhill Wells on HottyToddy Hometown: Senatobia, Mississippi
Tire of the same ole news on 3 "Must Eat" Breakfast Spots in Oxford
gonna be a rebelution on Walking Rebel Fans Back Off the Ledge
Nora Jaccaud on Rickshaws in Oxford
Martha Marshall on Educating the Delta — Or Not
Nita McVeigh on 'I'm So Oxford' Goes Viral
Guillermo F. Perez-Argüello on How a Visit to the Magnolia State Can Inspire You
Charlie Fowler Jr. on Prawns? In the Mississippi Delta?
Martha Marshall on A Salute to 37 Years of Sparky
Sylvia Hartness Williams on Oxford Approves Diversity Resolution
Jerry Greenfield on Wine Tip: Problem Corks
Cheryl Obrentz on I Won the Lottery! Now What?
Bnogas on Food for the Soul
Barbeque Memphis on History of Tennessee Barbecue
Josephine Bass on The Delta and the Civil War
Nicolas Morrison on The Walking Man
Pete Williams on Blog: MPACT’s Future
Laurie Triplette on On Cooking Southern: Fall Veggies
Harvey Faust on The Kream Kup of the Krop
StarReb on The Hoka
Scott Whodatty Keetereaux Keet on Hip Hop — Yo or No, What’s Your Call
Johnathan Doeman on Oxford Man Dies in Crash
Andy McWilliams on The Warden & The Chief
Kathryn McElroy on Think Like A Writer
Claire Duff Sullivan on Alert Dogs Give Diabetics Peace of Mind
Jesse Yancy on The Hoka
Jennifer Thompson Walker on Ole Miss, Gameday From The Eyes of a Freshman
HottyToddy.com