ESPN's Greg McElroy picks the Commodores to win the rivalry game on Always College Football. He argues that Diego Pavia and a ball-control offense will exploit the Volunteers' defensive struggles.
The Vanderbilt Commodores travel to Knoxville on Saturday looking to secure a historic tenth win. Standing in their way are the Tennessee Volunteers, who have won six consecutive games in this in-state series.
The matchup at Neyland Stadium features two teams with contrasting styles, prompting The former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback pointed to the consistency of the road team as a deciding factor. While acknowledging the explosive nature of the home squad, McElroy believes Vanderbilt is "the more complete football team" right now. He expects them to "get this thing done" in a hostile environment by adhering to a disciplined game plan. McElroy noted that while the Volunteers have a "higher ceiling" and a dangerous passing attack, the Commodores can neutralize those threats. The ESPN broadcaster predicted that Vanderbilt would "control the pace by running the football" and "capitalize on a couple mistakes" that the Tennessee defense might make. He concluded that these elements should lead to a Vanderbilt victory in "what should be a very exciting game."The clash of philosophies centers on tempo. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel runs an "RPO-centric spread tempo attack" that relies on volume and rhythm. In contrast, Vanderbilt excels at clock management, ranking 32nd nationally in time of possession, while Tennessee ranks 127th. McElroy explained that the "ultimate objective for Vandy here is to starve Tennessee's offense of opportunities." The Commodores can achieve this by "playing defense with their offense" and utilizing their "high-efficiency offense to control the clock." Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is the catalyst for this approach. McElroy warned that the Tennessee defensive front must maintain disciplined interior pressure to contain him. He stressed that defenders cannot allow Pavia to "escape horizontally" because that leads to defensive breakdowns and "unexpected big play" opportunities. Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia has accounted for 34 touchdowns this season. / Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Heisman dark-horse quarterback enters the game with high confidence after a record-setting performance against Kentucky, and McElroy noted he is a "confident guy" who will "want to take on all these opportunities." The passing game also relies on tight end Eli Stowers, who McElroy highlighted as a "significant mismatch." Stowers ranks "second nationally among tight ends with over 700 receiving yards" and provides a reliable safety valve for Pavia. Finally, the analyst pointed to the red zone as the critical area. With Tennessee allowing opponents to score on nearly 90 percent of trips inside the 20, McElroy stated bluntly that "field goals will not win this game" and both teams "must score touchdowns" when the chances arrive.Matt De Lima is a veteran sports writer and editor with 15+ years of experience covering college football, the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and MLB. A Virginia Tech graduate and two-time FSWA finalist, he has held roles at DraftKings, The Game Day, ClutchPoints, and GiveMeSport. Matt has built a reputation for his digital-first approach, sharp news judgment and ability to deliver timely, engaging sports coverage.
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