TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Following a 41-34 victory over then-No. 2 Georgia Saturday in head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first SEC game, No. 1 Alabama goes on the road this week to Nashville, Tennessee for a date with the Vanderbilt Commodores.
While this week’s game may not have the magnitude of postseason impact as last week’s battle had, do not think the Crimson Tide are going to take Saturday’s game lightly.
On Monday, rat traps were seen set all over the floors of Mal Moore Athletic Facility, indicating to the team to keep their focus on what is ahead despite playing an unranked opponent.
Alabama is coming off what is being considered the best win from any team so far in the college football season. Saturday night’s clash that Alabama held on to win helped the Crimson Tide jump three spots up to the top spot in the new AP Top 25 rankings.
Alabama jumped out to a 28-0 lead and went ahead 30-7 at halftime. In the second half Georgia stormed back to take a 34-33 lead with under three minutes left in the game.
But Georgia’s lead did not last long.
The next play, quarterback Jalen Milroe threw a 75-yard touchdown to wide receiver Ryan Williams. A two-point conversion gave Alabama a 41-33 lead that the Crimson Tide held onto for the win.
If the first four games have proven anything, it is Alabama’s team has been battle-tested in the early stages of the season.
“Each game provides experiences, right?” DeBoer said in Monday’s press conference. “That South Florida game, I think we learned a lot, but I really like that because that shows the preparation, that confidence.”
But at 2-2, Vanderbilt has shown they are not shying away from big competition. The Commodores started their season with a 34-27 overtime upset victory against Virginia Tech, the team that had the 5th-most first place votes to win the ACC.
Two weeks ago, Vanderbilt came a field goal short of pulling off what could have been the upset of the season. The Commodores went to No. 7 Missouri and fell 30-27 in double overtime against the Tigers.
Vanderbilt held a 27-20 lead in overtime, but Missouri tied the game in the first overtime before scoring a field goal to start double overtime. Vanderbilt had the chance to extend the game to triple overtime, but missed a 31-yard field goal attempt.
Alabama is 63-18-4 all-time against Vanderbilt, including 23 consecutive wins. Vanderbilt last beat Alabama in 1984 with a 30-21 victory.
The Crimson Tide will look to hold off Vanderbilt from seeking another upset bid Saturday afternoon. Alabama and Vanderbilt will kickoff at 3:15 CT on SEC Network.
