subject: 2010 Vanderbilt Football Predictions [print this page] Live odds are available all season long at Locksmith Sports Picks. Our top handicappers provide expert college football picks to help you build a bankroll and beat the books!
The defense returns five starters from a group that allowed over 23 points/game and gave up a lot real estate on the ground to the opposition. Quarterback play was down in the SEC a season ago and was the main reason why Vandy held opponents to just 165 yards passing/game. LB Chris Marve is the heart and soul of the defense. His 121 tackles led the team by a considerable amount and was good enough to earn 2nd team All SEC honors. Joining Marve at linebacker is John Stokes, who has seen quite a bit of game action. The defensive line must improve in 2010 if the Commodores plan on lowering the rush yards allowed. DT Adam Smotherman tore his ACL in spring practice and is hoping to return for SEC play. TJ Greenstone joins him at tackle as a returning starter also. 2nd team all conference CB Myron Lewis was a 3rd round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Bucs. Casey Hayward will take over as the top corner and hook up with other team's top receivers. He had a team high 8.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. Special teams should be a strength with K Ryan Fowler returning (hit 16 of 21 fgs) and Warren Norman returning kicks once again.
Vandy opens with back-to-back home games vs. Northwestern and conference foe LSU. They will have two SEC games under their belt by the middle of September. The majority of their games will be on home turf, even if it is in a stadium that holds under 40,000. Rivalry games await in the middle of November with games against Kentucky and Tennessee. This is going to be a rebuilding year and I would be shocked if they win more than four games. I predict yet another 2-10 finish.
