AutoZone Liberty Bowl 2011: Complete Preview for Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt

Where: Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis, Tenn.

When: December 31, 2011 at 3:30 p.m.

Watch: ABC, ESPN3  

Key Storyline

The Vanderbilt Commodores will host the Cincinnati Bearcats in their home state of Tennessee in the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl. The Commodores went 6-6 for the season, including 2-6 in the very tough SEC. The out-of-conference record of 4-0 is what actually got this team bowl eligible.  

The Bearcats went 9-3 for the season, making their 13th bowl appearance and their first Liberty Bowl after missing the postseason last year. The Bearcats took its share of the Big East championship and will look to put up a lot of points against their SEC foe. 

This was the perfect pairing for this bowl matchup, as these two teams are equally matched.

Who Might Not Play for Cincinnati

Bearcats quarterback senior Zach Collaros had surgery on his broken right ankle after injuring it against West Virginia.  

This is a big blow to the Bearcats, who will have to use the inexperienced but talented sophomore Munchie Legaux. Munchie has been solid, but used more so as a game manager.  

Who Might Not Play for Vanderbilt

The offensive line has been at a disarray all season long with key injuries and rotating until the assertion of quarterback Jordan Rodgers. Rodgers has solidified this line being a more traditional pocket passer. 

The time off leading up the bowl should give this offensive line enough time to get healthy.  

What it Means for Cincinnati

Coach Brian Kelly did a great job in turning the program around in his three seasons from 2006-2009, but then he bolted to Notre Dame, leaving this program shocked. 

Everyone thought that this program was never going to get back to that status again. Cincinnati then hired Butch Jones, and he had an abysmal first season, which was understandable after losing quarterback Tony Pike and wide receiver Marty Gilyard.  

But after only one season since Brian Kelly and those players left, this team is back into a bowl game, looking to continue its rise as a college football power.

A win at the the Liberty Bowl would bring a great recruiting backing for this program and would keep this team on a continual rise. 

What it Means for Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt has been a constant bottom dweller in the powerful SEC. It is definitely hard to compete against programs such as LSU, Alabama and Auburn, but coach James Franklin has done an admiral job in putting a competitive team out there.  

If this team was in a different conference, I have not doubt that they would be competing for conference champions every season.  

Having a star quarterback in Jordan Rodgers and winning the Liberty Bowl will definitely help this program in recruiting. This game will be a big boost for this program as it tries to be the top football school in the state of Tennessee. 

What They're Saying: Cincinnati Coach Butch Jones

Cincinnati coach Butch Jones is an emerging coach, and has turned this program around. Last year, the Bearcats went 4-8 in Butch’s first season, but went 9-3 in his second. People have been raving about what his has done this season.

Here's what he said about making it to the postseason at the bowl acceptance press conference. 

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"Sometimes you have to lose to really appreciate this. You never take winning for granted. Being home over the holidays (last year)...I was so disappointed. I knew our players were disappointed. When we came back and had our team meeting, I could tell we had a very focused football team." 

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Cincinnati Player to Watch

Senior running back Isaiah Pead is the leader of this offense and will try to get loose on the ground against Vanderbilt. For the second straight season, Pead has rushed for over 1,000 yards and is the only source of consistency with this team. 

This is going to be Pead’s last game, as he will like to go out with a punch in his final collegiate game. Expect a huge game on the ground and in screen plays from him.  

Vanderbilt Player to Watch

Jordan Rodgers is a future star in college and basically came out of nowhere after taking the starting quarterback job from Larry Smith a few weeks into the season. 

Jordan has a very similar skill set to his older brother, Aaron, with a strong and accurate arm. Jordan likes to stay in the pocket a little more and is very poised. 

The Liberty Bowl is going to a big stage for Jordan to show his talents and what the SEC can expect from him next season. He will be the next great quarterback in the college. 

Key Matchup: Running Back Zac Stacy and the Bearcats Defense 

The key matchup in this game will be between the opposing teams' defenses against the running backs, especially what running back Zac Stacy will do.  

Zac Stacy has emerged as one of the best offensive talents for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He is an explosive back who uses his agility and quick burst to get by players. What sets him apart from the other backs in the country is that he can line up as a receiver and run routes.  

The Bearcats defense will have to keep a close eye on Stacy, as Coach Franklin likes to put him all over the field. If he is able to catches a few passes in this game, then it will open up a lot of room on the ground for him to run.

Prediction: Vanderbilt 27, Cincinnati 21

Vanderbilt plays in the top conference of the SEC and knows what power and aggressive football is. They will be physical against a Cincinnati team that has had its difficulties against physically imposing teams such as Tennessee and Rutgers.  

This will be a battle where Jordan Rodgers and Zac Stacy will move the ball down the field and pull out a victory for the Commodores.