SEC Midseason Grades: Vanderbilt

Ok, six games in, and it's time to start giving out some grades. The rankings come from how I think the teams in the SEC rank (though teams 3-7 can probably just be shaken up and tossed out in any order). The grades come from how the teams have played during the season with a bit of thought to how good they were expected to be in early September.

I'm going to start by posting No. 12, with the remainder to follow today and tomorrow.


12. Vanderbilt Commodores --- Midseason Grade: D+

Review:
The Commodores have been explosive in two games this season - Western Carolina and Rice. Since then, grrrrrr. No one expected wins over LSU or Ole Miss, but expectations of a repeat postseason trip were dashed with losses to Mississippi State and ... ARMY?!? Now, Vandy returns to it's role of SEC underdog and (hopeful) spoiler.

Record-to-date:
Western Carolina - Win - 45-0
at LSU - Loss - 23-9
Miss State - Loss - 15-3
at Rice - Win - 36-17
Ole Miss - Loss - 23-7
at Army - Loss - 16-13 (OT)

Remaining schedule: Georgia, at South Carolina, Georgia Tech, at Florida, Kentucky, at Tennessee(As a side note, why doesn't Vandy have to play a game the week before the SEC Championship? There was a big to-do over the Iron Bowl being two weeks prior to the title game, and a rule instituted that all SEC teams must play a game. The 'Dores obviously are granted an exception.)

Toughest / Most Important Game: Tennessee. The Commodores match-up against the Vols will once again replace their bowl game. While the 'Dores could possibly upset someone over their final six games, and they'd most want it to be UT, Tennessee isn't dropping a fourth game in 45 years to their instate "rival."

Expected Regular Season Record: 2-10

Expected Bowl: No Bowl Appearance

Outlook: The Commodores might be able to upset someone - with UGA reeling from back-to-back losses and talk of heads rolling in Athens, while Vandy has been successful against Spurrier for the last two seasons. But the game against the Gamecocks is in Columbia and UGA doesn't go under .500 under Richt. Kentucky looks to be the only chance at a win, and while the game is in Vanderbilt, I think the team has folded by mid-November.