Mizzou football vs. Vanderbilt: 5 things to know about clash on ‘College GameDay’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- ESPN’s “College GameDay” previews No. 15 Mizzou at No. 10 Vanderbilt in Nashville.
- Mizzou seeks first road win over a top-10 team since 2013.
- Mizzou pass rush (21 sacks) tests Diego Pavia while run game must get back on track.
After surviving a close call at Auburn, it’s on to the next for Mizzou, and this one will have more fanfare surrounding it in a top-15 matchup.
As the No. 15 Tigers head to Nashville to see No. 10 Vanderbilt, ESPN’s “College GameDay” will get the day started.
The Commodores (6-1, 2-1 SEC) are coming off a statement win against No. 20 LSU, which brought them to their best start since 1950. QB Diego Pavia contributed three touchdowns (two on the ground) and compiled 246 yards in the win.
“Vanderbilt, awesome opportunity,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday. “Obviously, I think Clark’s (Lea, Vanderbilt coach) done an outstanding job. His team is very tough, very physical. They’re a complete team. ... It’s going to be a great environment, sold-out crowd. ‘(College) GameDay’ is going to be there. So, really fun opportunity for us. “
Can Mizzou (6-1, 2-1) pull off the upset in Nashville?
Here’s what to know ahead of kickoff...
Mizzou vs. Vanderbilt game details
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: FirstBank Stadium in Nashville
TV: ESPN
Radio: KMBZ (980) in Kansas City, KCMQ (96.7 or 103.1) in Columbia
Betting line: Vanderbilt is a 2.5-point favorite.
Over/under: 52.5
Five things to know before kickoff
1. This is Mizzou’s first “College GameDay” matchup since 2014. While the famous ESPN show hasn’t been to Mizzou since 2010 — the only time the Tigers hosted at Faurot Field — it’s still been over 10 years since Mizzou was in the “College GameDay” matchup. Mizzou was the road team for the show’s 2014 trip to South Carolina, a 21-20 MU win.
2. The last time Mizzou beat a top-10 team on the road? Even longer than that. This seems like the week to break some streaks for the Tigers. Mizzou’s last top-10 road win came in 2013, an upset over then-No. 7 Georgia in Athens. The Tigers went on to win the Cotton Bowl.
3. It might take a work of “magic” to handle Diego Pavia. Drinkwitz had the word to describe the dual-threat QB on Tuesday. “He’s a magician back there,” he said. “We’ve got to be really disciplined in how we tackle.”
He has 1,569 yards through the air, and Pavia is even leading the Commodores in rushing with 438 yards. He has 19 total touchdowns.
4. Can Mizzou snap out of its recent run-game struggles? Mizzou put together just 91 yards on the ground against Auburn and 163 against Alabama. Mizzou averaged 292 yards per game through its first five contests before those games. But the Vanderbilt defense might pose a tough challenge to improvement, allowing just 92 rushing yards per game.
5. Mizzou’s defense has the best pass rush that Vanderbilt has seen this season. With 21 sacks, Mizzou tops all of Vanderbilt’s previous opponents this season. It could be a big game for Zion Young and company.
