Vanderbilt hosts Missourah (spits) in what the Southeastern Conference for some unknown reason is calling a “conference game,” even though Vanderbilt is clearly hosting a Big 8 team. Also, this is unironically a game between the #15 team in the country and the #10 team in the country, and you’ll never believe which of those Vanderbilt is.
This is also the first time in the series history that both teams are ranked going into the game. Weird, I know! Both teams’ 2013 teams would finish the season ranked (Missouri
was ranked 5th!) and yet when the two played in October that season, neither was ranked.
Also, both of these schools were once coached by Woody Widenhofer. This game will probably not look like either team is coached by Woody, though some of the recent matchups (hello, 10-3 game in 2015) could have fooled me.
What say our writers?
Thomas Stephenson
First of all, James Franklin is out of a job because Eli Drinkwitz was able to take Penn State’s backup quarterback and turn him into a guy who completes 70 percent of his passes with an average of 7.6 yards per attempt, also known as “better than Drew Allar.”
Granted, it helps when most of your job consists of “handing off to Ahmad Hardy.” Like Vanderbilt did with New Mexico State, Missourah (spits) plucked Hardy from UL Monroe, plugged him into the backfield, and suddenly has the SEC’s leader in rushing yards. Where I think Vanderbilt wins this game is simply outscoring Missouri. We get to 7-1 today and possibly make the “first time this has happened since (long time ago)” go away by moving to an AP Poll ranking we’ve literally never had before, not even in the 1930s.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 38, Missouri 34
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: Ole Miss over Oklahoma might seem like the obvious one, but I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that MISSISSIPPI STATE (+7.5) makes things miserable for the latest member of the Manning family.
Andrew VU ‘04
Other than the Ugga State letdown, this was the one game from last year I’d like to have another shot at. That double OT heartbreaker in Missourah (spits)… well, we’ve got home field advantage this time. That and an offensive line that can make their pass rush into a pancake breakfast. Betting lines tend to kick 3 points towards the home team’s way, so let’s just hope that happens in regulation.
As long as we keep Missourah’s (spits) running game below their season average of 100 yards per carry (hat tip to the Mandator), we should escape with victory in a tight one.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 34, Missouri 31
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: Give me Coach Road Rash and the Woo Pig Sooie’s (+1.5) over Mr. Freeze and the War Tigers. I’ll also take Ole Piss over the OK Boomers, if you want a bonus pick.
Patrick Sawyer
Missouri’s one true strength is the rushing attack of Ahmad Hardy. The Commodores have been strong against the run. This feels like a game that could get off to a grinding start for both teams since Missouri has a good, potentially very good, defense. Vanderbilt has the more diverse attack though. It may be a deep shot to Tre Richardson, a jet sweep Kayleb Barnett, a Diego Pavia scramble, or either of Sedrick Alexander or MK Young ripping off a long run that does it, but I think Vanderbilt gets the first big play of the game.
Then they slowly force Missouri out of their comfort zone. Beau Pribula throws an interception or two under duress from a very good Commodore pass rush. It snowballs a bit, and Vanderbilt goes to 2-0 when GameDay is in town.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 31, Missouri 17
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: Arkansas just took Texas A&M to the wire. They are only 1.5-point underdogs to Auburn. They win that game, and it puts Pavia in prime position to be the final blow to Hugh Freeze’s time on the Plains.
Cole Sullivan
Fake school. I hate them. They don’t belong here and as a charter member of the SEC I always consider it our duty to vanquish them. Sadly, more often than not, we fight them close. I think they are overrated this year though, and honestly have been for a year or two now. We will prove, similar to when we played them for homecoming my sophomore year, that this is our house and these are our colors. And this is our season.
The Pick: Vanderbilt 41, Missouri 17
The SEC Upset Pick of the Week: Something about the Game Penises… I don’t know why, but U think they topple ol’ Alabama. If they do, the field won’t be safe.
