#20 LSU (0-1, 0-1 SEC) travels to Tennessee to meet Vanderbilt (0-1, 0-1 SEC) in an SEC conference meeting. Both teams are trying to bounce back after suffering season-opening losses. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST inside Vanderbilt Stadium, and can be seen on the SEC Network. The Tigers are a 21-point favorites.
What to Know – LSU Tigers
The defending National Champions opened their 2020 campaign with a poor effort, suffering a 44-34 home loss to Mississippi State last Saturday. LSU was a heavy favorite, and allowed MSU’s quarterback to throw for a conference-record 623 yards.
Joe Burrow has moved on to the NFL, and junior Myles Brennan was named the starting quarterback for the opener. Brennan’s outing had mixed results, as the signal-caller completed 27-of-46 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns, but also a pair of interceptions.
The ground game never got going for the Tigers last Saturday, as they ran the ball 38 times for just 80 yards. LSU featured three backs that carried the ball 7+ times, and it was sophomore Chris Curry (9 carries, 47 yards, 5.2 avg) had the best output.
Junior Terrance Marshall Jr., one of the few returning playmakers from last season’s team, hauled in eight receptions for 122 yards and two scores. Brennan completed passes to nine different LSU receivers.
LSU defenses surrendered an eye-popping 623 yards through the air, but held the Bulldogs to just 9 yards on the ground. The Tigers also forced four turnovers and intercepted a pass for a touchdown in the second quarter.
What to Know – Vanderbilt Commodores
The Commodores kept #10 Texas A&M in check most of the game in their opener, trailing by just two points entering the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, a field goal and the inability of Vanderbilt to score, ended the game with a 17-12 Commodores loss.
True freshman Ken Seals started the opener for the Commodores, and completed 20-of-29 passes for 150 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Seals is just the eighth freshman to start at quarterback in Vanderbilt history.
Running backs Ja’Veon Marlow (16 carries, 65 yards) and Jamauri Wakefield (15 carries, 37 yards) split the carries in the Vandy backfield. The Commodores were only able to muster up 2.8 yards per carry against a dominate Aggie front.
Junior Amir Adbur-Rahman caught five passes for 72 yards including a seven-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter. That touchdown was the only time the Commodores found the endzone.
Vandy’s defense allowed 372 yards of total offense and held the Aggies to 40% (4-for-10) efficiently on third down. Junior defense back Dashaun Jenkins highlighted the Vandy defense with eight tackles and a forced fumble.
The Pick Is In
LSU has superior athletes across the board and will be able to control this game from start to finish, mainly due to their advantages on the offense and defensive lines. Vanderbilt’s defense looked stout on Saturday though, and should keep the Commodores respectably close. Take the Commodores and the points at home in this one.
