Army @ Vanderbilt preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2009 ) Vanderbilt 13, Army 16

THE STORY: Vanderbilt could certainly use a breather from its brutal slate of Southeastern Conference games. Army is here to provide that break. The Commodores started the season in promising fashion with three straight wins but have dropped three in a row to SEC foes to fall back to .500. They had a chance last week against Georgia but could not find the end zone on the final play for a 33-28 setback. Junior Jordan Rodgers finished that game and will get his first start at quarterback when Vanderbilt welcomes the Black Knights on Saturday. Army doesn’t throw the ball much but can dominate opponents on the ground, leading the nation in rushing. The Black Knights already have one win over a BCS conference team on their resume: Northwestern.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Vanderbilt -10.5

ABOUT ARMY (2-4): The Black Knights are rushing for an average of 361.3 yards, almost 14 yards more than any other team in the country. The problem is imbalance as Army only passes for 58.2 yards (last by nearly 44 yards) and works out of the option. The Black Knights exploded for 124 yards passing last week as Trent Steelman completed all eight of his passing attempts, but the defense left something to be desired in a 35-28 loss at Miami (Ohio). Army is allowing an average of 29.2 points and has yet to win on the road.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (3-3): The Commodores blocked a punt with 20 seconds left against the Bulldogs, getting the ball at the Georgia 20 with seven seconds left. Rodgers got two passes off in that time but could not get in the end zone. Still, Vanderbilt managed to score 25 more points than it had in two previous losses. Rodgers, who guided the Commodores on three touchdown drives against Georgia, takes over for senior Larry Smith.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Vanderbilt center Logan Stewart will be suspended for the first half on Saturday for fighting with two Georgia players. Commodores coach James Franklin will not be penalized for a heated exchange with a Bulldogs coach following the game.

2. Vanderbilt defensive back Casey Hayward is tied for second in the FBS with five interceptions.

3. Army has never defeated two BCS conference teams in the same season.

PREDICTION: Commodores 24, Black Knights 10 - Rodgers and Vanderbilt should have little trouble with the Army defense.