It has been one full year since the Vanderbilt Commodores shocked the world when they knocked off the then first ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.
It was a sleepy spot for the Tide, making their visit to Nashville seven days after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in an emotional one score game… sound familiar?
The difference this year is that nobody is overlooking this 16th ranked Vandy team. Additionally, Heisman hopeful Diego Pavia will be making his first trip to Tuscaloosa Alabama to take on the tenth ranked team in the nation in their home.
Last year’s loss was the biggest in Commodore history, and, conversely, the most humiliating blemish on the Crimson Tide’s spotless record.
Now former head coach Nick Saban is giving his advice on how the Tide can avoid back-to-back losses to this SEC foe.
“I think itâs going to be really important in this game that we control the tempo of the game,” Saban said Friday on the Pat McAfee Show. “We need to keep the ball offense, run it a little better, because the one thing Vandyâs defense is going to be able to do is they get you in third down now, they have a really good pressure package, and theyâre bringing people from everywhere. So Ty (Simpson is) going to have to handle that.”
Nick Saban Says This Vandy Team Is Better Than Last Year
Last year marked the first time Vanderbilt had beaten the Crimson Tide in school history. Saban warns that this iteration of Vandy is even better.
“I donât think thereâs any question about it, this is a lot better Vanderbilt team this year than what they had last year,” Saban said. “Last year, to me, it was the Diego Pavia show. He ran it. They did quarterback runs. He dominated the game. He dominates the game now in a different way because to me, he makes every player on his team better, because heâs a much better passer … Heâs got better skill guys, a better runner. I think theyâre a little better on defense. So this is a real team to me. And this guy is a tremendous playmaker. Heâs like a point guard out there. So this is gonna be a real challenging game.”
Pavia is currently one of the top ten players in the country as far as Heisman odds go, he ranks behind Ty Simpson who is considered the second most likely.
Pavia has thrown for 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns, all while leading his entire team in rushing yards with just under 300.
His team is undefeated and he has connected on touchdown passes to seven different teammates, including five to the 5’11” junior out of Nashville, Tennessee, Junior Sherrill.
Vandy Has Already Beat South Carolina On The Road
Vanderbilt is wrecking crew. No team has stayed within 20 points of them as they have bullied their way through the country.
Their most impressive win of the year came in Week 3 on a trip to Columbia when the Commodores demolished the then 11th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks 31-7 on the road.
There will be absolutely no overlooking this squad, but make no mistake this win will not come easy.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Nick Saban Explains How Alabama Can Beat Vanderbilt In Revenge Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.