PREMIUM
AAA's 10* *WKU/Vandy* Opening Day BLOCKBUSTER (+$26K LIFETIME NCAAF!)
(NCAAF) Western Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt,
Point Spread: 2.50 | -106.00 Western Kentucky (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 2.50 | -106.00 Western Kentucky (Away)
Result: Win
This is a 10* BLOCKBUSTER on Western Kentucky.
Vanderbilt has opened its season at home on a Thursday night for three consecutive years and all three have resulted in a loss. We don't agree with the oddsmakers whatsoever in this one though, as in our opinion, Western Kentucky is vastly superior in every facet of the game.
The Hilltoppers:
WKU possessed one of the nations top offensive units, but it failed miserably on the defensive side last season. Still, the team would finish 8-5 overall and would go on to beat Central Michigan 49-48 in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. No big surprise here, the offense is once again going to be the team's strength in 2015/16 and the defense is expected to be much better after Head Coach Jeff Brohm focused primarily on that side of the ball in the Spring. The offense will once again be directed by QB Brandon Doughty who was granted a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA and who is the reigning Conference USA player of the year after leading the country with 4,344 passing yards and 44 TD's in 2014. The Hilltoppers also had more good news in the offseason when UAB decided to shutdown its football program at the end of last year, making its players available for transfer and immediate eligibility. WKU would quickly grab senior Jontavious Morris, who immediately upgrades the defensive line and the defensive unit as a whole.
The Commodores:
Derek Mason's start as Head Coach got off to a rocky start in 2014/15 as Vanderbilt would win just three games overall, while going a miserable 0-8 in the SEC. While the team should definitely show improvement from this year to last, it won't happen over night or in one game as the offense was one of the worst in the nation in 2014, finishing dead last in both total offense and scoring offense by a wide margin in the SEC. In fact, Vandy would score only nine offensive TD's in its eight SEC games overall. The biggest issue for the team last year will once again be its biggest issue this season: the QB position. New Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig is still trying to decide who will start as neither Wade Freebeck or Johnny McCrary have played well enough to stake a claim as the No. 1 guy. The offensive line was atrocious, as the team averaged a league-worst 3.4 YPC, while also struggling to protect the QB. Vanderbilt also struggled in pass defense, giving up a league-high 7.6 yards per attempt and intercepting only six passes. The Commodores will benefit from more experience on both sides of the ball in 2014/15, but all signs once again point to a long and frustrating season.
The Bottom Line:
Even in the stacked SEC, Doughty is one of the top quarterbacks that Vandy will face all year. We simply can't see the Commodores matching pace with the Tops high-octane offense and while we obviously wouldn't be surprised by an outright victory, we feel that the savvy move is to grab the points. Play on WESTERN KENTUCKY.
AAA Sports
Vanderbilt has opened its season at home on a Thursday night for three consecutive years and all three have resulted in a loss. We don't agree with the oddsmakers whatsoever in this one though, as in our opinion, Western Kentucky is vastly superior in every facet of the game.
The Hilltoppers:
WKU possessed one of the nations top offensive units, but it failed miserably on the defensive side last season. Still, the team would finish 8-5 overall and would go on to beat Central Michigan 49-48 in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl. No big surprise here, the offense is once again going to be the team's strength in 2015/16 and the defense is expected to be much better after Head Coach Jeff Brohm focused primarily on that side of the ball in the Spring. The offense will once again be directed by QB Brandon Doughty who was granted a sixth-year of eligibility by the NCAA and who is the reigning Conference USA player of the year after leading the country with 4,344 passing yards and 44 TD's in 2014. The Hilltoppers also had more good news in the offseason when UAB decided to shutdown its football program at the end of last year, making its players available for transfer and immediate eligibility. WKU would quickly grab senior Jontavious Morris, who immediately upgrades the defensive line and the defensive unit as a whole.
The Commodores:
Derek Mason's start as Head Coach got off to a rocky start in 2014/15 as Vanderbilt would win just three games overall, while going a miserable 0-8 in the SEC. While the team should definitely show improvement from this year to last, it won't happen over night or in one game as the offense was one of the worst in the nation in 2014, finishing dead last in both total offense and scoring offense by a wide margin in the SEC. In fact, Vandy would score only nine offensive TD's in its eight SEC games overall. The biggest issue for the team last year will once again be its biggest issue this season: the QB position. New Offensive Coordinator Andy Ludwig is still trying to decide who will start as neither Wade Freebeck or Johnny McCrary have played well enough to stake a claim as the No. 1 guy. The offensive line was atrocious, as the team averaged a league-worst 3.4 YPC, while also struggling to protect the QB. Vanderbilt also struggled in pass defense, giving up a league-high 7.6 yards per attempt and intercepting only six passes. The Commodores will benefit from more experience on both sides of the ball in 2014/15, but all signs once again point to a long and frustrating season.
The Bottom Line:
Even in the stacked SEC, Doughty is one of the top quarterbacks that Vandy will face all year. We simply can't see the Commodores matching pace with the Tops high-octane offense and while we obviously wouldn't be surprised by an outright victory, we feel that the savvy move is to grab the points. Play on WESTERN KENTUCKY.
AAA Sports
