Eastern Michigan @ Vanderbilt preview
Vanderbilt Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2007 ) Eastern Michigan 7, Vanderbilt 30
For a change, it's Vanderbilt that should be cautious about looking ahead.
Before starting a string of six straight SEC games without a break, the Commodores (1-3) host an Eastern Michigan team that's outmatched and on a 17-game losing streak.
It's an opportunity for Vandy coach Robbie Caldwell to rest some hobbling starters. But any half-hearted effort could result in an embarrassing disaster.
True, Eastern Michigan (0-5) has been outscored 214-99. But most of that disparity came in blowout losses to Ohio State (73-20) and Central Michigan (52-14). The Eagles were competitive against Army, Miami (Ohio) and Ohio University.
Vandy's record, on the other hand, is not as bad as it looks. Its four previous opponents have a 16-4 record, and the Commodores' win at Ole Miss is the only one by an SEC East team against the West, which holds a 7-1 season edge.
Vanderbilt is coming off a 40-21 loss at Connecticut in which all the Commodores' points came in a span of three minutes, 48 seconds of the second quarter. Leading 21-14, they gave up 26 unanswered points.
The Eagles had a similar collapse Saturday when Ohio University scored 20 straight points in the third quarter and won 30-17.
Vandy ranks near the bottom of the SEC in most offensive and defensive categories and has hurt itself badly with penalties. The Commodores rank last in the SEC in penalty yardage, averaging 62.5 yards a game compared with opponents' 27.5.
The Commodores expect to be without star linebacker Chris Marve, who made 11 tackles against UConn and is tied for the SEC lead, averaging 9.8 tackles a game. He suffered a meniscus tear against UConn and the coaches are hoping to have him healthy for Georgia on Oct. 23.
With veteran defensive tackles T.J. Greenstone (high ankle sprain) and Adam Smotherman (knee injury) out last week, the Huskies' Jordan Todman returned from an injury and rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Greenstone is not expected back this week.
Vandy quarterback Larry Smith passed for 157 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 64 yards last week. For the season, he's thrown for 540 yards with three touchdowns and three picks. Tight end Brandon Barden leads the Commodores with 15 catches for 153 yards, and Warren Norman has rushed for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
Eastern Michigan’s big-play guy is sophomore receiver Kinsman Thomas, who has 29 catches and seven touchdowns in his 13-game career. He has 14 receptions for 319 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Sophomore quarterback Alex Gillett has completed 62 of 111 passes for 758 yards and seven touchdowns and is second on the team with 181 yards on 56 carries with one touchdown. He was 15 of 30 for 208 yards and a touchdown and Dwayne Priest had 117 yards on 19 carries last week.
Eagles sophomore linebacker Matt Boyd made his first start against Ohio State on Sept. 25 and registered 14 tackles.