College football: Predicting the last place team from every conference

College football: Predicting who finishes in last place of every conference

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 24: Illinois Football head coach Lovie Smith speaks to the media during the Big Ten Football Media Days event on July 24, 2018 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 25: Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Derek Mason celebrates with fans after a game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and Tennessee Volunteers on November 25, 2017, at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

SEC: Vanderbilt

With the rest of the SEC continuing to get stronger, Vanderbilt could find themselves being cellar dwellers once again.

The SEC is arguably the best conference in the country, but one team has to finish last each year. For years that team has been Vanderbilt. The Commodores have not had a plus .500 season since 2013 when they went 8-4 in the regular, won the BBVA Compass Bowl over Houston and were ranked 24^th in the final AP poll. After the season head coach James Franklin was gone and the team nose-dived in the conference.

Derek Mason’s first four seasons have been difficult with 3-9, 4-8, 6-6 and 5-7 seasons. In that span, Vanderbilt has won only six SEC Conference games. With South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee on the conference schedule and a road matchup against Notre Dame, this could be a make or break year for Coach Mason.

Vanderbilt finished 11^th in the SEC in total offense and has some questions to answer there. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur was third in the conference in passing last year with 2,823 yards and 26 touchdowns, but threw 10 interceptions; third most in the SEC. If the Commodores want to compete in this conference, they need more consistent quarterback play.

A good running game with a consistent back is essential to winning in this conference and Vanderbilt is short in that area too. The team was last in the SEC in rushing and lost starting running back Ralph Webb to the NFL. Khari Blasingame is expected to take over, but he played sparingly and is virtually an unknown.

Unless the passing game improves and Vanderbilt can run the ball better, this team appears to be a 4-8 one. If that is the case, Mason could be getting a pink slip soon.