On3 Sports YouTube host Josh Pate believes that something magical could be brewing in Neyland Stadium during this Saturday’s rivalry game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt. Unfortunately for the home crowd, though, that magic is Vanderbilt picking up a win over Tennessee to close down the regular season.
It wouldn’t be an upset in terms of rankings, with Vanderbilt coming in at No. 14 and Tennessee landing at No. 19, but it would be an upset in terms of the line. The Vols are currently a point favorite over the ‘Dores. It would also be an upset simply just in terms of which side has dominated the series history.
“I feel magic this week,” Pate said on Josh Pate’s College Football Show on YouTube. “I think Vandy is going to go in there and get the win. And I think they’re going to make it very hard on the playoff committee.”
Pate is looking at third down as a potential impact factor in this ballgame.
“Both of them are Top 12 offensively in third down,” Pate said. “Both defenses are bottom half of the country in third down. Both of them are very comparable in turnover margin, both of them are very comparable in penalties. And that’s why the number is what it is. Tennessee is essentially favored by home-field (advantage).”
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Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is clearly a threat in both the pass game and the run game. He’s third in the SEC in total passing yards, and he leads the Commodores in both carries and rushing yards on the season. Tennessee will have to stop the pass first and foremost, but that can’t lead to Pavia being able to escape the pocket and move the chains with his legs – something that we’ve seen at times from the Vols’ defense.
“The Tennessee defense versus running quarterbacks is what I’m really focused on here,” Pate said. “I watched them against Taylen Green and Arkansas. Taylen Green gave them some trouble. He didn’t rip them, but 17 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. (Oklahoma QB) John Mateer carried it 16 times for 80 yards and a touchdown.”
Pavia, meanwhile, has averaged just over 60 rushing yards per game this season. Tennessee did well to bottle him up to just 45 yards with his feet last season, but the Commodores have a rebuilt offensive line this time around.
It’ll certainly be a huge factor for both sides in the game on Saturday.
No. 19 Tennessee will host No. 14 Vanderbilt at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Neyland Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Check out Josh Pate’s full preview video below:
