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Top-25 matchup in SEC pits Tigers against Commodores

Wed 1st, October 2008

Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - The 19th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores are a perfect 4-0 thus far, and they welcome the 13th-ranked Auburn Tigers to Nashville for an SEC showdown.

Auburn has not lost to Vandy since the 1955 Gator Bowl and is 12-5 against nationally-ranked teams since the 2004 season. The Tigers suffered their only loss of the season two weeks ago against national powerhouse LSU, but they did bounce back last weekend with a 14-12 decision over Tennessee. The schedule is fairly favorable for Auburn over the next month-and-a-half, but closing out the season with back-to-back clashes against Georgia and Alabama will present a major challenge.

Vanderbilt is aiming for its first 5-0 start since 1943, and the team is ranked for the first time since 1984. The Commodores are 2-0 in SEC play for just the third time since 1956, and their most recent victory came two weeks ago over Ole Miss by a 23-17 final. Vandy will not play either LSU or Alabama during the regular season, and Bobby Johnson's team is poised for one of its most successful finishes ever.

Auburn holds a 20-19-1 edge in the all-time series with Vanderbilt, and the Tigers won last season's meeting by a 35-17 final. In fact, Auburn has won 13 straight decisions over the Commodores.

Chris Todd threw the game's only touchdown pass and finished 14-of-23 for 93 yards to lead Auburn to the narrow win over Tennessee last weekend. Robert Dunn, who caught the scoring pass in the first quarter, nabbed six balls for a total for 54 yards. Ben Tate rushed for 70 yards on 19 attempts while Kodi Burns came on to complete 4-of-6 passes for 36 yards.

"We've got to get better," said offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, who knows that it takes more than 14 points to win most SEC games. "It's confusing to say the least."

So far this season, Auburn is generating a modest 19.8 ppg to go along with 329.4 total ypg. The ground attack is generating only 3.8 ypc, and the passing game is responsible for just three touchdowns against five interceptions. Tate leads the backfield with 393 yards and two touchdowns, while Todd has completed 57.7 percent of his passes for 815 yards.

The Tigers' defense came up huge against Tennessee, holding the Volunteers to 191 yards of total offense, while defensive tackle Jake Ricks recovered a fumble in the end zone for Auburn's final score.

"For the fifth straight game we played with unbelievable effort, I thought," said Auburn defensive coordinator Paul Rhodes after watching the film from the Tennessee game. "We executed exceptionally well. We had guys where they were supposed to be and were aligned right with great consistency and guys executing their job very well." Rhodes is understandably proud of the fact that his Tigers are yielding only 10.6 ppg and 246.0 total ypg. The defense is limiting foes to 92.2 rushing ypg on an average of 2.9 ypc. The pass defense has been strong as well, holding teams to nine yards per pass completion. Keep an eye on Antonio Coleman, who has already posted four sacks.

Amazingly, Vanderbilt is ranked 116th out of 119 FBS teams in passing offense, as the club is throwing for only 80.8 ypg. Still, the Commodores are scoring a healthy 29.8 ppg thanks to a solid ground attack that posts 202.0 ypg. Of the 13 touchdowns that the offense has scored, 10 have come on the ground. Jared Hawkins leads the team in rushing with 314 yards, and he has three touchdowns to his credit. Quarterback Chris Nickson has rushed for 270 yards and five scores while throwing three TDs with no interceptions. Sean Walker is the most capable of the team's receivers, and he has nine catches thus far for 105 yards and one score.

Vanderbilt only managed 11 first downs and 202 yards of total offense against Ole Miss last time out. The offense scored one touchdown in the clash, a nine- yard pass from Nickson to Hawkins. Fortunately, three field goals and a defensive score enabled the club to steal the victory.

Opponents are scoring just 17.0 ppg against Vanderbilt, which is surrendering 364.2 total ypg. The Commodores have allowed a mere six touchdowns to opposing offenses through four games, including just two rushing scores. It is extremely impressive that Vandy has already registered 10 interceptions, overshadowing the fact that opposing quarterbacks are averaging more than 12 yards per completion. The team's secondary players do gamble at times, but their calculated risks have paid off to date. Patrick Benoist leads the Commodores with 37 total tackles, and Ryan Hamilton has intercepted three passes to go along with a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Hamilton intercepted a pass against Ole Miss two weeks ago and raced 79 yards for a touchdown. That interception was one of four registered by the defense, which also posted a pair of fumble recoveries. The six takeaways overshadowed the 385 total yards that the Commodores surrendered. "We were opportunistic to say the least," said coach Johnson, who was obviously proud of the effort put forth by his defense.

Where the players come to play and STAY.