Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
My dad used to say there’s a reason Las Vegas is filled with billion-dollar hotels in the middle of the desert, they weren’t built by being wrong.
Sports bettors have their own version of that wisdom: “Vegas always knows.”
Maybe we all should have known what was coming Saturday after Vanderbilt opened as a -1.5 favorite. That didn’t stop idiots like me from betting on LSU. Regardless, sportsbooks shouldn’t have been the indicator that Vanderbilt was a contender. Anyone that’s watched this team play football this year has seen the same thing.
Vanderbilt isn’t a novel, feel good underdog story anymore. Vanderbilt is legit.
Clark Lea has done a masterful job in his return to his alma mater as head coach at Vanderbilt. You could argue he’s done the best job in the country in completely reshaping the mindset of the entire brand. However, he would have been fired by most schools after his third year pic.twitter.com/75Zikfv61p
— Skye Underwood (@SkyeUnderwood) October 20, 2025
What do good football teams do?
They own the line of scrimmage. The Commodores have allowed five sacks all season, which is the fewest in the SEC, and their 50 tackles for loss rank in the top five in the league. Check.
Good teams protect the football. Vanderbilt has just six turnovers this year, and their seven last year were the fewest in the country. Check.
Good teams don’t beat themselves. Vanderbilt has just 14 penalties in conference play this season, which is the second fewest in the league. Check.
Good teams have elite quarterback play. Everyone already knows how good Diego Pavia has been since he arrived in Nashville. Check.
I’ve been on teams with Steve Wisniewski, Richie Incognito, Harris Barton and Guy McIntyre…
All of those guys would be PROUD to meet Vanderbilt OG Cade McConnell!!
No wonder this team is winning when they’re blocking like this! pic.twitter.com/TtFBHV3czw
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) October 20, 2025
It’s not that Vanderbilt hasn’t been given respect this season. This is probably the most we’ve talked about the program in its entire history. But, the casual college football fan might not realize just how good they truly are. A lot like Indiana last year, this isn’t some cute little story that will be fun while it lasts until they play someone. Nope. They have played someone. They just beat No. 10 LSU and are 6-1 for the first time since 1950.
And if you want to get real honest and look at the Alabama game. If Diego Pavia doesn’t fumble on the seven yard line with Vanderbilt up seven against Alabama, the Commodores likely go up 14-0 and could easily be 8-0.
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