There's no need to instill any false hope in you Commodores fans. You can expect your squad to be at the bottom of the barrel in the SEC this season and I'm sure you already knew that. SportsBetting.com has the Vanderbilt Commodores listed with 25 to 1 odds to win the 2009 BCS Championship. Read College Football Predictions Expert Jeff Alexander's 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores predictions and season preview for Point-Spreads.com to find out exactly why.
Offense – The only way Vandy might be able to avoid the SEC basement is if senior QB Chris Nickson has a bounce back season. He fell completely out of the lineup last season due to injuries and lackluster performances. It was a bit dumbfounding considering that Nickson played well in 2006 when he totaled 2,779 yards of total offense – good for the fourth-best single season effort in school history. You likely won't see him this season, but you Commodores fans do have hope in the near future with Alabama's former Mr. Football Larry Smith. Vandy won't be able to overcome two huge holes on this side of the ball.
The loss of the SEC's all-time leading receiver Earl Bennett will add insult to injury in the passing game and the departure of left tackle Chris Williams figures to leave a gaping hole in the line. The line will then feature five new starters which always means trouble. Even powerhouse schools like Michigan and Ohio State would be worried about that many newcomers stepping in. This will make running the football a chore for Jeff Jennings and Jared Hawkins. This offense was 11th in the SEC in total yards last season and they've lost even more key parts.
Defense – Last season's defense was the school's best in a decade. The Commodores return six starters from that unit which ranked fourth in the SEC. While that makes headline news at Vandy, elite programs would not trade for this unit. The Commodores have tried to add speed and athletic ability to their defense to match that of the speedy SEC schools, but it's impossible for them to get the type of talent that the Florida Gators or LSU Tigers can bring in for example. Vandy did finish 16th in the nation in total defense last season and 18th against the pass. It's definitely going to hurt losing five starters on this side of the ball and the offense's projected lack of productivity will have the defense playing too many tired possessions.
Last year's improvement began in the secondary with solid corners D.J. Moore and Myron Lewis. Both will be back this season. Moore tied for a SEC-best six picks. Lewis is a big play guy. Safeties Reshard Langford and Ryan Hamilton both love to hit. Defensive ends Steven Stone and Broderick Stewart have the potential to be playing on Sundays. Stone was a reliable starters and Stewart came up with six sacks in a backup role. The defensive line needs to improve, especially at tackle. The linebacking corps will struggle. There's no way that star linebackers Jonathan Goff and Marcus Briggs can be replaced this season.
Special Teams – Bryant Hahnfeldt will likely become the school's all-time leading scorer, but only because he is a four-year starter. Shame on Vandy for not trying to get someone better. His 61.1% career average is nothing to praise. The punting game has struggled also with two-year starter Brett Upson averaging under 40 yards per punt for his career. D.J. Moore is a dynamic return man. Many considered him among the best in the SEC last season.
College Football Predictions for the 2008 Vanderbilt Commodores – 6th in SEC East
The offense was awful last season and now it has lost its best receiver and tackle to boot. That spells doom for the Commodores. Not only will they finish last in the East, they will likely be the overall worst team in this 12-school conference.
SportsBetting.com has posted football betting odds on various 2008 College Football Predictions:
Alabama
60 – 1
Arizona
100 – 1
Arizona St
100 – 1
Arkansas
100 – 1
Auburn
40 – 1
Boise St
100 – 1
Boston College
100 – 1
California
100 – 1
Clemson
30 – 1
Florida
6 – 1
Florida St
60 – 1
Georgia
6 – 1
Georgia Tech
100 – 1
Illinois
50 – 1
Iowa
100 – 1
Kansas
75 – 1
Kansas St
100 – 1
Kentucky
100 – 1
LSU
12 – 1
Louisville
100 – 1
Maryland
100 – 1
Miami FL
100 – 1
Michigan
30 – 1
Michigan St
100 – 1
Missouri
15 – 1
Nebraska
75 – 1
North Carolina
100 – 1
North Carolina St
100 – 1
Notre Dame
100 – 1
Ohio St
6 – 1
Oklahoma
6 – 1
Oklahoma St
100 – 1
Oregon
100 – 1
Oregon St
100 – 1
Penn St
50 – 1
Rutgers
100 – 1
South Carolina
75 – 1
South Florida
100 – 1
Tennessee
100 – 1
Texas
30 – 1
Texas A&M
100 – 1
Texas Tech
75 – 1
UCLA
75 – 1
USC
3 – 1
Virginia
100 – 1
Virginia Tech
40 – 1
Wake Forest
100 – 1
West Virginia
20 – 1
Wisconsin
50 – 1
Field (Any Other Team)
25 – 1
