Tennessee vs Vanderbilt Prediction, Game Preview, Betting Lines: Can Diego Pavia Ruin The Vols Season?

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Nov 28, 2024 10:51 PM ET

Win and get in.

There’s still a question about whether or not the College Football Playoff committee will like a three-loss team that doesn’t play in a conference title game, but Tennessee can avoid all of that.

After winning five of its last six games, beat Vanderbilt, go 10-2, and Tennessee will almost certainly be in at around a 10 seed.

Vanderbilt is already in a bowl, it already beat Alabama, and it already had a great season. But after losing three of the last four games, beat Tennessee, ruin the Vol season, and 2024 would go down as something special.

Tennessee vs Vanderbilt: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
How To Watch: ABC
Venue: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, TN
Teams: Vanderbilt (6-5), Tennessee (9-2)
CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Week 14 Schedule, Predictions

Why Tennessee Will Win

Reality is starting to kick in for Vanderbilt with losses in three of the last four games, and why?

Third down conversions.

Vanderbilt was a force at keeping the chains moving over the first part of the season, but even though it’s hitting 44% or more of its shots overall, it converted 25% or fewer against Texas, Auburn, and LSU - the three losses in the last four games.

The Commodores don’t have the firepower to keep up if they’re not in total control of the tempo, and …

Tennessee is third in the nation in third down stops. The pass rush and aggressive defensive front should be all over Diego Pavia. That goes hand-in-hand with …

Why Vanderbilt Will Win

Diego Pavia has to be amazing.

Vanderbilt is 4-0 when Pavia is hitting 75% of his passes and 5-2 when he’s connecting 55% of the time.

Again, he has to be sharp, the third down plays have to come with his legs as well as hit arm, and he has to have one of those special days when he’s in total command of the game.

When the Commodores have the momentum, it’s like they’re playing downhill. Speaking of which …

Tennessee vs Vanderbilt: Who Will Win?

That’s what Dylan Sampson and the Tennessee ground game does - it plays like it’s running downhill.

Vanderbilt is 5-0 when allowing teams to run for fewer than 100 yards, 1-5 when it doesn’t.

Tennessee has yet to run for fewer than 143 yards this season. It’ll hit that mark with ease, and then it’ll sit back and wait to see where it’s playing in the first round of the College Football Playoff.