GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Vanderbilt has had fits stopping the run against SEC opponents, giving up 5.7 yards per carry in league games since the start of 2017. Arkansas could start freshman Connor Noland, and the Commodores would certainly prefer putting the Razorbacks in predictable passing situations. That means that a Vanderbilt run defense paced by DE Dare Odeyingbo, ILB Jordan Griffin, ILB Dimitri Moore and S LaDarius Wiley will have to stop RB Rakeem Boyd (502 yards, 6.7 per carry), who carried 22 times for 99 yards against Tulsa.
DRAFT SLANT
–WR Kalija Lipscomb, a junior, leads the Commodores with 54 catches, 588 yards and six touchdowns, and has added five carries for 40 yards rushing. He ranks second in the SEC in catches per game (6.8) and sixth in receiving yards per game (73.5).
ROSTER REPORT:
–RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn missed the last six quarters of football, but the Commodores hope they’ll get him back from a concussion suffered two weeks ago vs. Florida.
–SS Frank Coppet is listed as the starter at his position for the second straight week.
–OLB Charles Wright hasn’t played since leaving the Tennessee State game in Week Five and isn’t expected back this week. Wright was a preseason second-team All-SEC pick.
–OL Bruno Reagan, who started the year at right guard, is listed as the starter at center again this week.