Vanderbilt Commodores 2016 NCAA Football Preview
VANDERBILT COMMODORES
Southeastern Conference – East Division
2015 Record – 4-8
ATS – 7-5
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
East Division #4 (Tie)
Conference #11 (Tie)
2015 Recap
It seems like ages ago that the Commodores were in three straight bowl games and notching back-to-back 9-win seasons. Last year was a struggle as they went 4-8 with a win vs FCS opponent Austin Peay and three other victories by a combined 15 points.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
It looks like the Commodores will finally head into the season with an actual starting QB. The ongoing fiasco has come to an end – at least for now – as sophomore Kyle Shurmur was declared the starter during the spring. Shurmur led Vanderbilt to a couple of conference wins last season and will rely on a strong running game and some emerging WRs to help generate points. The offensive line is talented and has some size which is a big positive.
JUGGERNAUT ALERT – RB Ralph Webb had a remarkable season in 2015 with over 1,100 yards rushing considering that opposing defenses knew that was the only way the Commodores could move the football. With a QB that can MATRICULATE down the field in the passing game and improved offensive line play Webb should have a big year.
DEFENSE
HC Derek Mason is a defensive mastermind and it showed last year when he was his own DC. The Commodores improved to allowing only 21 points per game and were ranked #28 in the FBS in total defense. The DL should be fine this season allowing potentially the best LB that nobody knows about (Zach Cunningham 3rd team AA) to continue dominating. The secondary is really good with a couple of solid corners. Looking good for 2016.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This unit needs to be better in order for Vanderbilt to make a run at a bowl game. New ST coach Jeff Genyk has the responsibility of squeezing as much as they can out of special teams. All the key players return from last season but they were a fairly underwhelming group overall.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 7.0
MEGALOCKS says:
Vanderbilt has to hit the ground running if they want to return to bowl season. The first two games are a couple of home dates that are very winnable (South Carolina, MTSU) and the back-end of the schedule looks pretty daunting.
Overall, we give the COMMODORES a 7.0 ATS Value Rating (Good) this season. MEGALOCKS INSIDERS are well aware that Vanderbilt has compiled a very profitable 5-year ATS record (60% combined from 2011-2015). Even during the past two seasons with brutal production from seemingly 104 different QBs they still managed to patch together a 13-11 mark against the number. We anticipate that the defense and improved QB play will make them a money-maker in 2016.
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News
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https://twitter.com/AdamSparks (@AdamSparks) Adam Sparks