NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt heads to Mississippi State on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Davis Wade Stadium and the contest will be televised live by the SEC Network.
Vandy is coming off a 54-21 loss at home to Ole Miss. Quarterback Ken Seals threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns during that contest while receiver Cam Johnson hauled in a career-high 14 catches.
Mississippi State (1-4, 1-4 SEC) has dropped four in a row after a 41-0 loss at Alabama last week. The Bulldogs are in their first season with head coach Mike Leach at the helm.
Vanderbilt and Mississippi State will be meeting for the 23rd time and have not faced each other since 2014. Mississippi State leads the all-time series 13-7-2.
Here is more on how to watch, listen to and follow Saturday’s contest as well as five key matchups at when the Commodores (0-4, 0-4 SEC) face the Bulldogs:
When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Location: Davis Wade Stadium
Television: SEC Network
Broadcast Crew
Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst), Dawn Davenport (sideline)
Channel Finder
AT&T | Xfinity | DISH | Comcast
Streaming
Vanderbilt IMG Sports Network
Announcers: Joe Fisher (play-by-play), Norman Jordan (analyst), Kevin Ingram (sideline)
On-Air Time: 2:30 p.m.
Pregame Show: 1:30 p.m.
Affiliates: WQZQ 830 AM, 93.3 FM, 101.9 Nashville; WNSR 560 AM, 59.9 FM Nashville; WALV 105.1 FM Chattanooga; WEKR 1240 AM Fayetteville; WJJM 1490 AM, 94.3 FM Lewisburg; WMPS 1210 AM, 103.1 FM Memphis; KASR 92.7 FM Conway, Arkansas
Satellite
SiriusXM: 390
SiriusXM online: 980
Streaming Apps
Multimedia
Twitter: @VandyFootball and @VandyNotes
Instagram: @VandyFootball
Facebook: Vanderbilt Athletics
Game day hashtag: #RTI | #ANCHORDOWN
Weather
75 degrees at kickoff, 20 percent chance of rain
1. KEEP THE OFFENSE ROLLING
Vanderbilt had its best offensive game of the 2020 season last week against Ole Miss.
Along with Seals’ and Johnson’s performances, tight end Ben Bresnahan and running back Keyon Henry-Brooks both had big days as well and the Commodores were perfect in the red zone. Vandy receivers made 31 receptions and Vandy backs came out with a three yards per carry rushing average.
Thus, the Commodores are feeling good about where they are offensively – but they have their work cut out for themselves in Starkville. Mississippi State has the SEC’s best pass defense, second-best total defense and third-best rushing defense.
2. KEEP STATE GROUNDED
Leach has fashioned a remarkable coaching career at Texas Tech, Washington State and, now, Mississippi State and has totaled 140 wins. Much of that success is due to his offenses throwing the ball all over the yard play after play after play.
The Bulldogs are no different in 2020, having attempted 278 passes (55.6 per game) and running the ball only 89 times. Vanderbilt’s defense should know exactly what it’s lining up against Saturday.
Vandy will also be looking to rebound from its worst defensive performance of the season against Ole Miss last week, when it surrendered 449 passing yards.
3. KEEP THE TURNOVER TRAIN GOING
The Commodores have gained at least one turnover in every game this season and upped their total to six after a fumble recovery against Ole Miss. That total is already more than halfway to where Vandy finished the 2019 season.
Mississippi State has given up possession a whopping 19 times by throwing 14 interceptions and losing five fumbles. That has been a big reason why the Bulldogs are on a four-game losing streak and scoring just 7.5 points per game during that span.
Vanderbilt must continue to take advantage of Mississippi State’s inability to consistently take care of the ball.
4. SAVE THE SEALS
Vanderbilt’s offensive line did a wonderful job against Ole Miss of keeping quarterback Seals upright and clean. The Rebels recorded only one sack that day.
But Mississippi State comes into Saturday having recorded 13 sacks in five games, the third most in the SEC. Five Bulldogs have recorded at least two sacks this season.
Vandy’s offensive front will need to have another solid game standing up to the Bulldogs bull-rushing the Commodores’ young quarterback.
5. NO BONE IN THE RED ZONE
Red zone struggles had been a serious issue for Vanderbilt before a 2-for-2 performance last week. It remains a serious issue for Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs have scored six times in 12 trips inside their opponents’ 20 yard line. Four of those six successes came in Week 1 during a win over No. 6 LSU. Mississippi State actually hasn’t put points on the board in its last four red zone trips.
Allowing the Dogs to move the ball between the 20s may not be detrimental as long as the Commodores bow up in the red zone.
Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com. Follow him @MrChadBishop.