SEC 2009 // Calling the Commodores

C&F's predictions for Vanderbilt.

Finish: T-5th, SEC East

General: I'm really torn between the Dores and the Wildcats, and while Pythagorean wins are nice, I know what I see. In Vanderbilt, I saw a team that skated by on lucky breaks and opportunistic play in 2008. That doesn't diminish what Johnson and Co. did; plenty of teams get those breaks and don't capitalize on them. But lightning rarely strikes twice, and this year the Commodores face a tougher schedule and still have some deep uncertainty on their offense. It's hard for me to see them making a second straight bowl trip. Don't rule it out, but it's unlikely.

More specific: Vanderbilt will put a severe scare into either LSU or Ole Miss, but ultimately fall short, sparking more chatter that this is going to be another magical year for the Dores. The best chances to pull an upset both come against teams from the Peach State: Either Georgia or Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs and Yellow Jackets both face weeks of tough conference games leading up to their matchups with the Commodores, and both have another league challenge after that game.

Game-specific

9.5 :: vs. Western Carolina :: WIN

9.12 :: at LSU :: LOSS

9.19 :: vs. Mississippi State :: WIN

9.26 :: at Rice :: POSSIBLE WIN

10.3 :: vs. Ole Miss :: LIKELY LOSS

10.10 :: at Army :: WIN

10.17 :: vs. Georgia :: PROBABLE LOSS

10.24 :: at South Carolina :: PROBABLE LOSS

10.31 :: vs. Georgia Tech :: PROBABLE LOSS

11.7 :: at Florida :: LOSS

11.14 :: vs. Kentucky :: PUSH

11.21 :: at Tennessee :: POSSIBLE LOSS

Final record: 5-7, 2-6

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MONDAY: Vanderbilt Strives for a Sustainable Future
TUESDAY: The Commodores Calendar
THURSDAY: The Dores' Depth; Bobby Johnson: How Good a Coach Is He?; The Apprentice: SEC Coaches Finale 
LATER TODAY: Final Thoughts