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Vanderbilt Football: Gauntlet will prove what Commodores are all about

By Matt Green

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates after a 14-7 Vanderbilt victory over Kansas State at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates after a 14-7 Vanderbilt victory over Kansas State at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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The Vanderbilt Commodores are 3-0 to start the season, but the next few weeks will show us just how good they really are.

This is the Vanderbilt football program’s first 3-0 start since 2011. Last week they beat no. 18 Kansas State 14-7, and now the hype train is starting to roll into Nashville.

Vanderbilt has looked great through their first three contests. They’ve outscored opponents by a combined 84-13. They’re first in the nation in total defense and scoring defense, allowing 198.3 yards and 4.3 points per game. The Commodores are also first in the nation in passing defense, allowing 95.3 passing yards per game, and 28th in the nation in run defense, allowing 103 rushing yards per game.

Kyle Shurmur has looked good to begin the season. After throwing 9 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 54.4 percent of his passes in 2016, he has improved significantly through the first three games of 2017. Shurmur is completing 71 percent of his passes and has thrown 8 touchdowns and no interceptions through three games.

Vanderbilt has to improve their rushing attack if they are going to be a legitimate contender in the SEC East. They’re 111th in the nation, averaging just 103.3 rushing yards per game. Only Florida, South Carolina, and Ole Miss have been worse in the SEC. Ralph Webb, one of the SEC’s most dynamic running backs, has managed just 149 yards and two touchdowns through the first three games.

These next three weeks will teach us a lot about Vanderbilt football. The Commodores will host no. 1 Alabama this weekend, before traveling to no. 20 Florida, then hosting no. 11 Georgia.

Sept. 23 – (1) Alabama (3-0)

Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States the last time Vanderbilt beat Alabama. It was 1984, and the Commodores beat an Alabama team that ended up going 5-6. While we can’t see the future, I would bet my life that the Crimson Tide won’t finish 5-6 this season. Alabama travels to Nashville for a primetime 3:30 CBS game with the Commodores, and you can bet that Vanderbilt Stadium will be as loud as ever. Alabama enters this game as an 18.5-point favorite.

Sept. 30 – @ (20) Florida (1-1)

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Vanderbilt has beaten Florida once in the past 26 years, and it was in 2013 in The Swamp. Florida’s offense was bad last season, and with true freshman Feleipe Franks, the Gators look even worse than last year. The Gators have won the past two matchups 13-6 and 9-7. This game will be gritty, old school football game, and it has all the makings of a 9-6 type of contest.

Oct. 7 – (11) Georgia (3-0)

Vanderbilt has had a lot of success against Georgia in recent years. They’ve won two of the last four meetings with the Bulldogs, including a 17-16 win in Athens last season. However, that might be more of a negative than a positive. The Bulldogs will make the trek to Nashville with revenge on their minds. Georgia won 31-14 the last time they played at Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt football fans are on cloud nine right now after this 3-0 start, but it’s a long season. After this upcoming three-week gauntlet of a schedule, we should know a lot more about the Commodores as a potential contender in the SEC East. We know what is “supposed” to happen, but that’s the beauty of SEC football. Let’s sit back and enjoy the ride.

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