Can Clark Lea lead Vanderbilt Football to a bowl game in 2023?
By Dante Pryor
How many games will Vanderbilt Football win this fall?
August 26, Hawaii W: Easy home opener for the Commodores. Timmy Chang and the Rainbow Warriors have some rebuilding to do.
September 2 Alabama A&M W: Good to see an SEC team playing an HBCU. It should be an easy one against an FCS team.
September 9 at Wake Forest W: The Demon Deacons won this game last season. However, Sam Hartman is at Notre Dame, and Wake Forest can’t stop anyone. Dores get the win back.
September 16 at UNLV W: The Rebels are much improved, but not enough to defeat the Commodores. Vany wins on the road.
September 23, Kentucky L: Vanderbilt opens its conference schedule with the Wildcats. Vandy won this game last year, so Kentucky has this one circled. Vandy struggles to stop Devin Leary and the new-look offense.
September 30 Missouri L: This game could go either way. The Tigers lost their leading receiver and are still deciding who will play quarterback. However, this defense is the real deal.
October 7 at Florida L: This is another 50-50 game. Florida is going to try to ground and pound the ball this year. Vandy’s run defense is not trustworthy.
October 14 Georgia L: The Bulldogs are way too good here.
October 28 at Ole Miss L: Quinshon Judkins will be a problem in this game if the Commodores don’t get the rush defense together. That said, Vanderbilt kept this game close for three-quarters last year.
November 4 Auburn L: Vandy could have a shot at this one if Peyton Thorne and the transfers’ new head coach Hugh Freeze don’t work out. The Tigers’ defense will be good, but Vandy gets this game at home.
November 11 at South Carolina L: The Gamecocks hope things come together for a good season. This was a close one last year and will be tight again this year.
November 25 at Tennessee L: The Volunteers dropped 56 points on the Dores last year in Nashville. Knoxville will be rocking for this game if the Volunteers are anywhere close to ten wins.
Prediction 4-8 (0-8 SEC)
The non-conference schedule allows Vanderbilt to have four wins going into conference play. However, there are two major concerns in 2023 with Vanderbilt. First, who is the offensive playmaker going to be? Second, the lack of size and push along the defensive line.
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There are three 50/50 games on the schedule — Florida, Auburn, Missouri — where the Commodores could win. They have a chance at a bowl if they can find a way to win those.