OVERVIEW
Auburn Tigers 4-1 (2-1) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores 4-0 (2-0)
Location: Vanderbilt Stadium
Time: 5 p.m. CDT
TV: ESPN
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Head Coach: Bobby Johnson (7th Season)
Conference: Southeastern Conference
Key Players to Watch: QB Chris Nickson, RB Jared Hawkins, WR Sean Walker, S Ryan Hamilton, S Reshard Langford
The Commodores have surprised many people, including myself, this season. Many are wondering if this is finally the time Vanderbilt turns it around. With Chris Nickson improving during the season, capitalizing on turnovers, and an NCAA leading 11 interceptions by their defense, its easy to see why they are in the position that they are in.
AUBURN TIGERS
Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville (10th season)
Conference: Southeastern Conference
Key Players to Watch: QB Chris Todd, RB Ben Tate, WRs Montez Billings and Robert Dunn, The Auburn Defense.
All the attention has been on Auburn's offense and what can be done to get it going. While it has been inconsistent, it has shown some glimpses of being productive. Course when you have a top notch defense, ugly games or not, wins still count as wins.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This top twenty matchup will feature these aspects:
Quarterbacks: Vanderbilt
Chris Nickson has shown improvement over time at Vanderbilt. He is definitely the leader for this offense. Auburn has yet to find a leader.
Running Backs: Even
The dual threat of Nickson and Jared Hawkins gets the 'Dores over 200 yards rushing per game. Ben Tate is the man getting most of the carries at Auburn. Brad Lester will be back to play this game to help with the load. Its even here cause Auburn has more depth than Vanderbilt.
Wide Receivers: Even
Vanderbilt does not pass it much, but when they do it is effective. Sean Walker is Nickson's go-to guy. Auburn's depth is better at WR, but has showcased its talents sparingly during the season.
Offensive Line: Vanderbilt
There is a reason Vandy has over 200 yards per game this season. It starts up front. Auburn's OL is still looking for answers.
Defensive Line: Auburn
Vanderbilt's DL is nothing to sneeze at, but the quartet of Antonio Coleman, Tez Doolittle, Sen'Derrick Marks, and Michael Goggins is possibly the best starting four in the conference.
Linebackers: Auburn
Patrick Benoist and Chris Marve are first and third on the team in tackles respectively. They know who has the ball on the field. Auburn has the luxury of substituting out LB's at will and do not suffer a drop on talent.
comments (2) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
Hard to believe Vandy is playing in the biggest game in the SEC this week. Heck, the nation!! This is one of the few matchups of top 25 teams.
I have long admired Vandy's scrappiness in hanging with the big boys. Over the last 20 years or so they have taken bama & Notre Dame and many others late into the 4th quarter and just run out of players. That said, I am an Auburn man and believe Auburn will win this game.
As disappointing as Auburn's offense has been, you point out that Vandy is LAST in the SEC in total offense. They won't score much against one of the best defenses in the nation, maybe not at all!! And Vandy's defense is also LAST in the SEC. Maybe just the cure for Auburn's ill offense.
Auburn hasn't lost in Nashville since 1950, and it won't happen this year either.
Auburn 30 Vandy 10
from 2 months ago
The reason they are last is because they haven't had to go very far on the field to score points. I think Vandy will have a tough time moving the ball from their side of the field to our side.
Another thing I should point out that works in Auburn's favor. Auburn is going to center the offense around its players. Someone tell me where the footage of that is?
write a new comment