No. 1 Alabama (4-0 overall, 1-0 SEC) will travel to Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1 SEC) for its first road SEC game of the season.
The Crimson Tide will be looking to extend their win streak over the Commodores to 24 consecutive games.
Here are a few things to watch for this Saturday afternoon as the Crimson Tide plays Vanderbilt.
Avoid the Trap
Coming off a big win over Georgia it will be tough for Alabama to bring the same energy in a trap game against an average Vanderbilt team. In an effort to help keep the players focused on the upcoming game, Alabama took a page out of Nick Saban’s playbook by placing rat traps around the Mal Moore Athletic Facility. Alabama will clearly be the better team but will need to do more than just go through the motions to beat the Commodores on Saturday.
Rushing Attack From the Running Backs
Through the first four games of the season, the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher is Jalen Milroe. He may be a dynamic runner, but having your quarterback lead the team in rushing is not ideal. A vulnerable Vanderbilt front seven should be just what Alabama needs to get the running backs going on Saturday. Look for one or maybe two Alabama running backs to go over 100 yards.
Contain Pavia
If you are unfamiliar with Vanderbilt’s quarterback Diego Pavia, just ask Hugh Freeze. Pavia transferred to Vanderbilt from New Mexico State, where he beat Freeze’s Liberty team in 2022 and went into Jordan-Hare Stadium and beat Freeze’s Auburn team 31-10 in 2023. Some might compare Pavia to Johnny Manziel, a fearless quarterback who can beat you with his arm or his legs. Alabama safety Malachi Moore described Pavia as a “wild card."
Exploit the Vanderbilt Secondary
A big concern for the Vanderbilt defense is the secondary. The Commodores have lost their last two games, and the key to the two losses was allowing multiple explosive pass plays. Alabama has one of the best wide receivers in the country in Ryan Williams and one of the most explosive offenses in the nation. Jalen Milroe should be able to air it out and take advantage of Vanderbilt’s defensive backs.
Continue Offensive Line Growth
Now that they are fully healthy, the Alabama offensive line has started to look like a top unit in the country. Against a talented Georgia defensive front, the offensive line was able to protect Milroe long enough to connect with multiple receivers on deep routes while not allowing a sack. In the run game, the line was able to set the edge and open up running lanes for Milroe. Alabama needs to keep the momentum going and continue to get better each week.
Kickoff time is set for 3:15 p.m. CT and will be televised on the SEC Network.
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