SEC Experts -- Vanderbilt

[SoonerBS]

I sure could use some help from some SEC guys who know Vanderbilt this year. It's hard for me to accept the fact that Vanderbilt is a "dog" of 4 points going to play a MAC team on the road. No offense to guys who are fans of the MAC, but I can't give the MAC much respect after last season's performances out of conference. Miami (OH) Barely beat a sorry Minnesota team in OT, they got riddled by Cincinnati and Colorado, and they barely beat a horrendous Syracuse team. They bring back almost that same exact team for this year.

Now, someone might say, "Well, Vandy only beat them by 11 points at their place last year." That may be so, but this game was played after Vandy had played Auburn, Georgia and S. Carolina consecutively. They were coming off a big win against S. Carolina and had Florida on deck whenever they played Miami (Oh). It was a good spot for Miami (Oh) to get a cover, but they couldn't pull off the upset.

This year Vandy lost 9 on offense and 6 on defense. The only real question I had about this team though was the offensive line as they lost everybody off last season's team. They bring back most of their skill players including their QB which is a plus. Word coming out of camp is that this offensive line might be more athletic and play better as a unit than what last season's experienced veterans did. Defensively the news has been positive as well.

Why the hell should we not be betting on an SEC team playing against a MAC team and catching points?

 

[Harvey Dent]

Live 30 miles out of vandy, and would not put money on them this year... that being said this is the best spot to back them ( if there is one )

 

[skinsfan]

I agree. Its Vandy or a no play for me.

 

[SoonerBS]

Live 30 miles out of vandy, and would not put money on them this year... that being said this is the best spot to back them ( if there is one )

I'm not talking about laying money on them to win over 3 games this season, I'm just looking at this game. Harvey, can you give me some news you have heard about how this team is looking so far? I know they have some holes to fill, but I am hearing some positives and few negatives from local reports. Is it all bullshit? Inform me . . . .

 

[Harvey Dent]

I'm not talking about laying money on them to win over 3 games this season, I'm just looking at this game. Harvey, can you give me some news you have heard about how this team is looking so far? I know they have some holes to fill, but I am hearing some positives and few negatives from local reports. Is it all bullshit? Inform me . . . .

Oh i got ya i was just saying i think this would be the best and only spot... ive got a friend that goes to vandy ill see what he knows

 

[SoonerBS]

Oh i got ya i was just saying i think this would be the best and only spot... ive got a friend that goes to vandy ill see what he knows

 

[AllenRocks]

Vandy has one of the best secondarys in the country. No joke. They have a corner and a safety that will play on Sunday. Miami likes to throw the ball. Vandy is a lower tier SEC team but they still will beat any MAC team. More depth than usual Bobby Johnson redshirts almost all of his freshman similar to what Wake Forest does. Don't underestimate Vandy.

 

[AlwaysKeen]

I am just going to have a tough time pulling the trigger on Vandy at all this year...they have a nice secondary and that's about it...at one time I thought Bobby Johnson was a really good coach, but now I consider him merely above average...Nickson is just too erratic, but I think the other kid is pretty good (name escapes me which is rare), kind of reminds me of Cutler a bit...they are without stud WR Earl Bennett this year too...

 

[AllenRocks]

They are going to use DJ Moore on offense this year again and Sean Walker has the ability to produce Bennett-like numbers. Once George smith comes back from injury Vandy will have some decent receivers. Nickson passed for 500 yards against Kentucky a few years ago and Mac Adams led the Dores to an upset in Columbia against Spurrier and co. in his first start.

 

[krk1030]

Just play the under, neither team can score.

Miami has one of the best linebacker corps in the country. Vandy has 5 new guys on the o-line. They had open competitions still running for almost every position a week ago.

 

[JohnnyMac]

Just play the under, neither team can score.

Miami has one of the best linebacker corps in the country. Vandy has 5 new guys on the o-line. They had open competitions still running for almost every position a week ago.

This is good advice for exactly the reasons stated. Miami has the best defense in the MAC and I think Vandy will have trouble moving the ball. Miami on offense has been erratic (to say the least) ever since Shane Montgomery took over as HC. This thing could be 0-0 at the half.

Oh, and by the way, Miami LOST to Minnesota in OT last year, to give Minny their only win of the year.

 

[golffish]

Vandy usually has decent starters and I have won a lot betting them early in the season before any of the starters get injured or banged up because they don't usually have the quality backups of most SEC teams.

They just have too many question marks for me to bet them this first game. JMO, but I think there are much better games on the card this weekeend.

BOL however

 

[cloverleaf]

Simple question might be who is doing the blocking up front
for the Doars? Sure as hell not someone that started last
year.
Not saying play Miami, but beware of any, any team with all
new starters on the O-line, even with an established QB
which Vandy does not have...just a thought.

 

[AllenRocks]

Don't bet against an SEC team vs. a MAC team. Vandy will play just about every SEC juggernaut close. No reason they don't beat Miami

 

[SoonerBS]

Don't bet against an SEC team vs. a MAC team. Vandy will play just about every SEC juggernaut close. No reason they don't beat Miami

People have quickly forgotten that last season's motto was don't play against ANY team playing against the MAC.This was 23-28-1 ATS and 17-46 SU in non-conference games for 2007. I seriously don't think these numbers are going to be much different for 2008 in the SU category. So, do we really want to be betting on a MAC team to beat an SEC team SU?

Percentages say it is not likely to happen . . . . .

 

[AlwaysKeen]

soonerbs,

'cause last year after week four or so I decided not to get involved in any games involving MAC or Sun Belt competion...

 

[krk1030]

Don't bet against an SEC team vs. a MAC team. Vandy will play just about every SEC juggernaut close. No reason they don't beat Miami

They will be destroyed by all if them. They will be getting 25 points on a regular basis on conference play.

 

[roxymusic]

All the reports I've seen from Oxford indicate that the Redhawks should be very solid on both sides of the ball. Miami is one of a very small handful of teams in the MAC that can defend well and I think that they will cover this line.I'd really ike to see it go down to -3 before I pull the trigger.

 

[BigPIG19]

i love the under here and I explain why in my early leans thread:

http://therxforum.com/showthread.php?t=608821

i would actually lean to Miami here but nothing more than a slight lean.

 

[AllenRocks]

They will be destroyed by all if them. They will be getting 25 points on a regular basis on conference play.

You obviously don't follow Vandy football. I live in Nashville. I know what's going on. Bobby Johnson redshirts 3/4 of all his freshman like Wake Forest did when they started getting good. There is depth at Vandy now.

Last year;
They had UT down by 16 in the 4th quarter and blew the lead with a bad roughing the kicker that led to a snowball effect.

They fumbled on Georgia's 7 yard line with two minutes to go with the score tied in the fourth.

They missed two field goals and an extra point to lose to 7 to Kentucky.

They had a punt returned for a TD called back (even the announcers agreed it was a bad call) and a really bad pushing off penalty on a 50 yard bomb that would've been a TD that led to a 14 point loss to Bama

Oh yeah, they beat South Carolina on the road last year.

If you want to give me 25 points against every SEC school I'll take it.