PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Kyle Shurmur hasn’t played well the last three games. VU will have little chance of upsetting Florida without its senior (187 attempts, 60.4 percent completions, 1,400 passing yards, nine touchdowns, four interceptions) playing well.
–TE Jared Pinkney has just three catches for 40 yards the last two games. The Commodores need the 6-foot-4, 255-pound junior (19 catches, 323 yards, two touchdowns) more involved this week.
–DE Dayo Odeyingbo has been inconsistent, but the Commodores’ most athletic lineman could be important this week in dealing with Florida QB Felipe Franks, who has 152 net yards rushing.
–ILB Jordan Griffin, Vanderbilt’s leading tackler (50 stops, 27 solo), should be in the midst of a lot of the action against a UF offense that runs (208 attempts) more than it throws (159).
SERIES HISTORY: The Gators lead 39-9-1. UF has won 26 of the last 27, the exception being Vanderbilt’s 34-17 win in Gainesville in 2013.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He’s getting better every day. Since he’s been back up here (at Vanderbilt Hospital) they’ve had to fight through some things, issues here and there, trying to manage the pain a little bit. One thing I know having seen him, he looks better, he’s feeling better, and at the end of the day, he’s ready to go home. That’s a good sign for Turner Cockrell.” — Coach Derek Mason on tight end Turner Cockrell, who’s taking a year away from football as he battles cancer.