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3 realistic reasons Vanderbilt can upset Alabama

By Jake Goldstein-Street

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates after a 14-7 Vanderbilt victory over Kansas State at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 16: Head coach Derek Mason of the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrates after a 14-7 Vanderbilt victory over Kansas State at Vanderbilt Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Vanderbilt will be hosting Alabama on Saturday, so here’s why they can beat the top-ranked Crimson Tide.

Vanderbilt comes into their home game against Alabama on Saturday night with a lot of confidence. They’ve exceeded some expectations to start the season and came through with a statement victory over No. 18 Kansas State in Week 3.

Both teams are undefeated and come into SEC play with confidence and high hopes.

The last meeting between these two teams was a blowout win for Alabama, 34-0, in Tuscaloosa in 2011. The last home game for the Commodores against the Crimson Tide was in Nick Saban’s first year, and Alabama won that game 24-10.

Here are three reasons why Vanderbilt could shock Alabama and come away with a victory come Saturday.

3. Stellar Defense

Vanderbilt is playing some of their best defense in years coming into this contest. Last week, the Kansas State Wildcats were only able to gain 277 yards, including just 76 through the air. Overall, Kansas State’s quarterback, Jesse Ertz, completed just 10 of his 28 passes due to great coverage by the Vanderbilt secondary. Their solid defense forced Ertz to throw two interceptions inside his own 35-yard line.

Not only did they cover well, but the defensive line played outstanding and they sacked Ertz twice. Overall, Vanderbilt is tied for the second-best defense in the country in terms of tackles for loss with 28 in three games. The only team better is No. 4 Penn State.

Additionally, they held the opposing offense to just 4-of-16 on third down opportunities. All of this helped give Vanderbilt this big upset victory.

The Wildcats scored just seven points over the course of the entire game.

This game was far from an aberration. Vanderbilt has the top total defense in the entire country. In addition, they have the second-best red zone defense in all of college football, allowing just one opposing score in four opportunities inside the 20-yard line. By comparison, Alabama is ranked 35th in the FBS.

Vanderbilt is returning many starters from last year’s tough defense that was ranked sixth in the country in red zone defense. Furthermore, they were sixth in third-down conversion defense, also.

If Vanderbilt can stop Jalen Hurts and Alabama this way, they have a good chance of coming out with a win and remaining undefeated.

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