Western Kentucky @ Vanderbilt preview

Derek Mason's first season at the helm in Vanderbilt did not go well, and the second-year coach will have a tough test in the Commodores' season opener Thursday against dangerous Western Kentucky. While Vanderbilt was winless in SEC play for the first time since 2009 and barely eked out its three non-conference victories, the Hilltoppers used a high-powered passing attack to produce their first bowl win and are tabbed to claim the Conference USA East Division title in 2015.

Mason said he hopes that his young team's lackluster showing a season ago will be a wake-up call, and put the blame on himself. "I assumed that just because we were in the SEC we'd play like an SEC team," Mason said during SEC Media Days. "We didn't." Getting back toward the level of the previous two seasons, when the Commodores produced back-to-back nine-win campaigns under James Franklin, could depend on a more settled quarterback situation as Johnny McCrary has been dueling for the starting job with fellow sophomore Wade Freebeck. Western Kentucky has no such issues under center with Brandon Doughty, the league MVP last season who returns for his senior campaign looking to build upon an FBS-high 4,830 yards.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Western Kentucky -2

ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY (2014: 8-5): The Hilltoppers return nine starters on an experienced defense and Doughty will have several of his top targets back in the fold. When he doesn't throw it, senior running back Leon Hall will handle much of the workload after producing 1,542 yards in 2014. Doughty threw for 486 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in a wild 49-48 victory over Central Michigan in the Popeye's Bahamas Bowl, and finished the year with 24 TDs and two picks over his final five games.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (2014: 3-9): McCrary or Freebeck, who represent two of the Commodores' four starting quarterbacks last year, will have to make do without starting wide receiver C.J. Duncan. The sophomore ruptured his Achilles tendon in practice and will be unable to build upon a quality debut in which he ranked second on the team in receiving yards (441) and tied for first in touchdowns (four). Running back Ralph Webb ranked third in the SEC in rush attempts and could be a workhorse once again for an offense that averaged 17.2 points in 2014, more than 10 fewer than any other SEC team.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Doughty also topped the nation in touchdown passes (49).

2. The Commodores played an FBS-high 31 freshmen last year.

3. Vanderbilt won the previous three meetings, but the teams have not played since 1938.

PREDICTION: Vanderbilt 24, Western Kentucky 23