{"id":36539,"date":"2025-08-06T11:03:58","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T15:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=36539"},"modified":"2025-08-06T11:04:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T15:04:00","slug":"2025-vanderbilt-football-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/college-football\/2025-vanderbilt-football-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Vanderbilt Football Preview Presented by GoldSheet | SEC Betting Predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Vanderbilt football program earned the title of “team no one wants to play” in 2024. Led by dynamic quarterback Diego Pavia and a hungry defense, the Commodores pulled several upsets last season and will have everyone’s attention in the SEC this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 Vanderbilt Football Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SEC Betting Odds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Team<\/strong><\/td>2024 Record<\/strong><\/td>2025 Win Total<\/strong><\/td>SEC Odds<\/strong><\/td>Nat’l Champ Odds<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Alabama<\/td>9-4 (5-3)<\/td>9.5 (o -125 \/ u +105)<\/td>+380<\/td>+1100<\/td><\/tr>
Arkansas<\/td>7-6 (3-5)<\/td>5.5 (o +110 \/ u -130)<\/td>+15000<\/td>+40000<\/td><\/tr>
Auburn<\/td>5-7 (2-6)<\/td>7.5 (o -160 \/ u +135)<\/td>+2800<\/td>+7000<\/td><\/tr>
Florida<\/td>8-5 (4-4)<\/td>7.5 (o +115 \/ u -135)<\/td>+1800<\/td>+4000<\/td><\/tr>
Georgia<\/td>11-3 (6-2)<\/td>9.5 (o -170 \/ u +140)<\/td>+330<\/td>+700<\/td><\/tr>
Kentucky<\/td>4-8 (1-7)<\/td>4.5 (o -115 \/ u -105)<\/td>+25000<\/td>+50000<\/td><\/tr>
LSU<\/td>9-4 (5-3)<\/td>8.5 (o -140 \/ u +120)<\/td>+700<\/td>+1800<\/td><\/tr>
Ole Miss<\/td>10-3 (5-3)<\/td>8.5 (-110)<\/td>+1600<\/td>+4500<\/td><\/tr>
Mississippi St<\/td>2-10 (0-8)<\/td>3.5 (o -160 \/ u +135)<\/td>+50000<\/td>+80000<\/td><\/tr>
Missouri<\/td>10-3 (5-3)<\/td>7.5 (o +130 \/ u -155)<\/td>+6000<\/td>+15000<\/td><\/tr>
Oklahoma<\/td>6-7 (2-6)<\/td>6.5 (o -170 \/ u +140)<\/td>+2800<\/td>+6500<\/td><\/tr>
South Carolina<\/td>9-4 (5-3)<\/td>7.5 (o +125 \/ u -150)<\/td>+2500<\/td>+6000<\/td><\/tr>
Tennessee<\/td>10-3 (6-2)<\/td>8.5 (o +115 \/ u -135)<\/td>+2500<\/td>+6000<\/td><\/tr>
Texas<\/td>13-3 (7-1)<\/td>9.5 (o -170 \/ u +140)<\/td>+270<\/td>+550<\/td><\/tr>
Texas A&M<\/td>8-5 (5-3)<\/td>8.5 (o +125 \/ u -150)<\/td>+1500<\/td>+4000<\/td><\/tr>
Vanderbilt<\/td>7-6 (3-5)<\/td>5.5 (o +130 \/ u -155)<\/td>+20000<\/td>+50000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Odds above courtesy of DraftKings as of July 26. The Commodores went 7-6 straight-up, 9-4 against the spread last season with a win over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl. Vanderbilt went 8-2 against the number as an underdog last season with five outright upset wins (three as a double-digit ‘dog).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 Vanderbilt Football Roster<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Projected Returning Starters<\/strong>: 17 (Nine on offense and eight on defense)
Projected Starting QB<\/strong>: Diego Pavia (Returning)
Returning Production<\/strong>: 77-percent (78-percent on offense and 77-percent on defense)
Incoming Talent Class<\/strong>: No. 51 Nationally \/ Last in SEC
Coaching Changes<\/strong>: No major changes. Head coach Clark Lea, offensive coordinator Tim Beck and defensive coordinator Steve Gregory all return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Returning starters are courtesy of Phil Steele’s 2025 College Football Preview Magazine. Returning production is courtesy of Bill Connelly’s conference preview series at ESPN. Incoming talent rankings are courtesy of 247 Sports’ Composite Ratings, which capture the talent rankings of both incoming freshman and incoming transfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alabama<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2024 Vanderbilt Football Stats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Strength of Schedule<\/strong>: No. 22 (courtesy of Jeff Sagarin)
Turnover Differential<\/strong>: +9 (No. 17 Nationally)
Plays per Game<\/strong>: 59.8 (No. 131)
Seconds per Play<\/strong>: 31.2 (No. 133)
Average Time of Possession<\/strong>: 31:03 (No. 39)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vanderbilt Football Stats on Offense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yards per Game<\/strong>: 318.4 (No. 123)
Points per Game<\/strong>: 27.3 (No. 73)
Yards per Play<\/strong>: 5.31 (No. 102)
Offensive Success Rate<\/strong>: 40.3-percent (No. 94)
Explosive Plays (20+ Yards)<\/strong>: 41 (No. 118)
Net EPA per Play<\/strong>: -0.05 (No. 92)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vanderbilt Football Stats on Defense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yards per Game Allowed<\/strong>: 376.5 (No. 74)
Points per Game Allowed<\/strong>: 23.4 (No. 49)
Yards per Play Allowed<\/strong>: 6.00 (No. 95)
Defensive Success Rate<\/strong>: 44.9-percent (No. 118)
Explosive Plays Allowed (20+ Yards)<\/strong>: 64 (No. 105)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Success Rate is an advanced metric that factors in the down and distance in relation to yards gained. A two-yard gain for a running back doesn’t look great in his overall box score, however a two-yard gain on 3rd-and-2 is a successful play. A low success rate on defense means you’re doing a good job of stopping the opponent from achieving successful plays. EPA stands for expected points added per play and it is a measure of how many points a team adds (or loses) on each play compared to the expected value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 Vanderbilt Football Schedule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"2025<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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