Alabama vs Vanderbilt Game Preview: Everything You Need To Know Before Kickoff
Conference play begins for Alabama this weekend with a trip to Nashville to face an undefeated Vanderbilt team.
No. 1 Alabama (3-0) vs Vanderbilt (3-0)
When: Saturday, September 23 at 2:30 PM/CT
Where: Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville
Weather: Forecasts call for a warm, muggy day on Saturday. Temperatures will peak in the high 80s at game time, but it will feel closer to 100 degrees.
TV: CBS (Play-by-play: Brad Nessler, color analyst: Gary Danielson, sideline reporter: Allie LaForce)
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-by-play: Eli Gold, color analyst: Phil Savage, sideline reporter: Chris Stewart). Listen on 95.3 the Bear and Tide 102.9/100.9 in Tuscaloosa.
Spread: Alabama is a 19.5-point favorite over Vanderbilt, according to Bovada. The Crimson Tide is 1-2 ATS in 2017.
Series History: Saturday marks the 84th meeting between the Tide and Commodores, but the first in six years. Alabama leads the series with an all-time record of 59-19-4 and has won 21 straight contests dating back to 1985. This will be the 44th time the two teams have played in Nashville, but Vanderbilt hasn't won at home since 1969. This will be Derek Mason's first time facing the Crimson Tide.
Last Meeting: The last meeting between these two teams happened in 2011. Quarterback AJ McCarron set new career highs with 237 yards and four touchdowns passing as No. 2 Alabama rolled through Vanderbilt, 34-0. Trent Richardson led the Tide with 107 yards rushing while Marquis Maze had a game-high 93 yards receiving. Alabama's defense held Vanderbilt to just eight first downs and 190 yards of total offense to move to 6-0 on the season.
Last Week: Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts had another big day through the air and on the ground in the 41-23 win over Colorado State. The sophomore finished with 248 yards passing, 103 yards rushing, and three total touchdowns. Eight different Tide players caught a pass against the Rams and running back Josh Jacobs made his 2017 debut, but tight end Miller Forristall suffered a season-ending ACL injury. The defense allowed a season-high 391 yards of offense, but two of the touchdowns came in the final 10 minutes of the game with Alabama up 31 points.
Vanderbilt picked up its first win over a ranked, non-conference opponent in more than 70 years after upsetting No. 18 Kansas State in Nashville. The Commodores top-ranked defense held the Wildcats to 76 yards passing and forced two turnovers en route to a 14-7 win. The victory gave Vanderbilt its first 3-0 start since 2011.