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FACTS & STATS: Site: Yager Stadium (24,286) -- Oxford, Ohio. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Vandy 0-0, Miami-OH 0-0. Away Record: Vandy 0-0, Miami-OH 0-0. Neutral Record: Vandy 0-0, Miami-OH 0-0. Conference Record: Vandy 0-0, Miami-OH 0-0. Series Record: Vanderbilt leads, 2-1.

GAME NOTES: The Commodores have not posted a winning season since 1982, but head coach Bobby Johnson's young squad is poised to kick off the 2008 campaign on the right foot when Vanderbilt heads to Oxford to take on the Miami-Ohio RedHawks at Yager Stadium. Oddly enough the last victory for Vandy came in 2007, when the squad defeated these same RedHawks in Nashville. At that point in the season the Commodores were 5-3 and needed just one win to become bowl eligible, but coach Johnson's team stumbled down the stretch, losing its last four games, including a heartbreaking, 25-24 setback to Tennessee on the road. The RedHawks are also coming off a very disappointing 2007 campaign, as the team posted its second consecutive losing mark, finishing the year at 6-7. It was the second consecutive losing season for Miami-Ohio and the lackluster effort also dropped coach Shane Montgomery's overall ledger while at Oxford to a mere 15-21. Despite a roller coaster season, the RedHawks went into the final two weeks of the season with a 6-5 mark, but back-to-back losses to Ohio (38-29) and Central Michigan (35-10) kept the RedHawks out of postseason play for the third straight year. With regard to the all-time series between the two schools on the gridiron, the Commodores hold a slim 2-1 edge over Miami- Ohio, and that includes the 24-13 victory for Vandy last year.

The Commodores had plenty of trouble in 2007 on the offensive side of the football, and with only three starters back, Vandy could have similar problems this season. MacKenzi Adams and Chris Nickson both spent time under center last year, but neither signal-caller was very effective. However, with that said, Adams will likely open as the team's starter against Miami-Ohio. Unfortunately for coach Johnson the quarterback position is not the only question mark for this offensive unit, as the team will need a receiver to step up and take over for Earl Bennett. George Smith will likely be the main target for whoever is under center, but the senior WR will have to prove that he is capable of handling the responsibility of being the Commodores' top receiving threat. Along with the passing attack, Vandy's ground game will have to perform at a much higher level. Last year the Commodores only averaged 3.7 ypc, but coach Johnson is hoping Jeff Jennings can be the answer Vandy needs out of the backfield. The senior tailback only rushed for 346 yards in 2007, but he enters this matchup with the RedHawks as the team's top option.

Vanderbilt enters its season-opener with a very promising defensive unit. The strength for the Commodores will be in the secondary, as all four starters are back in place. Junior D.J. Moore earned First-Team All-SEC honors as a sophomore. With 83 tackles and six interceptions last season, Moore was clearly one of the conference's top performers, and should put forth a similar effort in 2008. The front seven is filled with inexperience, beginning with the linebackers, which return just one starter in Brandon Bryant. Bryant only recorded 30 tackles last season, and will need to improve drastically as he will open against Miami-Ohio as the leader in the linebacking corps. Even more of a concern for coach Johnson is the front line, which only returns Steven Stone from last year's starters up front. Fortunately Broderick Stewart, who led the squad with six sacks last year, will take over the other defensive end position, giving Vandy a solid pair of athletes on the outside.

Much like the Commodores, the RedHawks enter the 2008 opener with uncertainty under center. Last year's starter Daniel Raudabaugh suffered through a lackluster 2007 campaign and has had to battle redshirt freshman Clay Belton for the starting job. Whoever is under center on Thursday will likely need look in the direction of Eugene Harris and Dustin Wood. Both receivers hauled in 40 or more receptions last year, while Woods also averaged 15.1 ypc. The main concern for coach Montgomery as the season opener approaches is the ground attack, which has not produced over 4.0 ypc since 2003. The top three backs from last year are gone, leaving the running back duties in the hands of Thomas Merriweather. The sophomore tailback only rushed for 143 yards a year ago, but he was able to lead the team with four rushing TDs. Merriweather should find more holes to penetrate this year, as the RedHawks are fortunate to have three starting linemen back in the fold.

The RedHawks should be vastly improved on the defensive side of the football, as Miami-Ohio will have nine starters back in the mix. The top three players that led the team in tackles last season all reside at the linebacker position, as Clayton Mullins (143), Caleb Bostic (103), and Joey Hudson (99) all return to give the RedHawks one of the most experienced linebacking groups in the nation. The front line is also filled with depth and experience, including the return of three starters. The anchor is Joe Coniglio, who is coming off a strong junior campaign in which he led the squad with 6.5 sacks. Just like the front seven, the secondary should also make tremendous improvements, thanks to the return of three starters, including the safety tandem of Robbie Wilson and Jordan Gafford.

This is a very dangerous game for Vandy. The Commodores have plenty of question marks offensively, and now will have to open their season on the road against a much improved Miami-Ohio squad. Expect a low scoring affair, but one which should tilt in the hometown team's favor.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Miami-Ohio 21, Vanderbilt 17