CFB Game of the Week: No. 10 LSU vs. No. 17 Vanderbilt

At high noon on Saturday, FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, will play host to a top-20 matchup between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the LSU Tigers.

Vandy comes in at No.17, while LSU comes in at No. 10. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Commodores come in at 2.5-point favorites over the Tigers.

Starting with the visitors, LSU is coming off of a non-impressive 20-10 win over a struggling South Carolina last week at home. The defense was good once again, forcing two turnovers of Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers and sacking him five times.

The problem once again resides in the offense, which the Tigers have basically failed to kickstart all season.

The run game was efficient, rushing for 168 total yards on a six-yard average. The problems came in the pass game. While Garrett Nussmeier threw two touchdown passes, he also threw two interceptions. Sophomore running back Ju’Juan Johnson also coughed up a fumble to stop a third LSU drive.

The struggles for Nussmeier this year have been odd, as he was touted before the season as one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. His completion percentage so far is up from last season, but we’re only halfway through and he’s on pace for fewer passing touchdowns and yards than last season.

This LSU offense so far this year is 85th in scoring, with only 25.8 points per game, which is down from 30.5 points per game last season.

What’s saving the Tigers is their unbelievable defense, which is fifth in the nation, only giving up 11.83 points per game.

Blake Baker’s unit is going to get all they can handle on Saturday, as Vanderbilt has one of the most explosive offenses in the nation.

They are currently seventh in the nation in scoring offense, putting up 43.2 points per contest, and they are second on third down, converting 57.9 percent of their opportunities.

The straw that stirs the drink for this Vanderbilt offense is quarterback Diego Pavia. An AP All-SEC second team selection in 2024, Pavia has thrown for 1,409 yards, 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He’s also the team leader in rushing with 352 yards and two touchdowns.

Pavia is also completing 71.4% of his passes, good for 13th in the country.

The man feeds on adversity and his ability to overcome it. Coming off of a loss to then No.10 Alabama, and having a bye week this past week, there’s no doubt that Pavia is going to come out with his hair on fire in this game.

This game is going to be a fantastic one; it’s a classic story of the unstoppable force vs. the immovable object. Vanderbilt with the red-hot offense, and LSU with the stifling defense.

If the Tigers want to win this one, they’ll have to lean on that great defense and spark some big plays in the passing game. Vanderbilt is 69th in passing defense this season. Getting the run game going will be tough, as the Commodores rank 16th there.

It will be an interesting chess match on Saturday, but it is definitely looking to be a fun one down in Music City.

Evan Pochas is a third-year student studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ejp5753@psu.edu.