Alabama Football: Bold Predictions for Vanderbilt game

It is time for another week of not-vanilla, Alabama Football Bold Predictions. Boldness is required, if for no other reason than to avoid comparisons to the Crimson Tide’s purportedly vanilla play-calling.

So my Bold Predictions do not include that Alabama will blow out the Commodores. A guess is almost every Crimson Tide fan expects that outcome.

Alabama Football vs. Vanderbilt Bold Prediction No. 1

At one of the guard slots and one of the cornerback positions, Alabama will start true freshman, Tyler Booker and redshirt freshman Terrion Arnold. Barring future injury, both players will not only start Saturday night but every game for the remainder of the season. Arnold already has two defensive unit starts this season.

Crimson Tide vs. Commodores Bold Prediction No. 2

Will Sheppard has been the Vanderbilt ‘go-to’ receiver this season. Sheppard’s four-game, average yards receiving is 78.3 yards from 5.8 catches per game. The Alabama football defense will choose to neutralize Vandy’s most productive receiver and Sheppard’s stats for Saturday will be well below his season average. Instead, the leading receiver for the Dores will be Jayden McGowan.

Bama vs. Vandy Bold Prediction No. 3

In four games the Vanderbilt offense has allowed only two sacks. Ten SEC football teams have surrendered more in just three games. LSU and South Carolina have allowed nine sacks each and Kentucky is the SEC’s worst with 11 sacks.

Vanderbilt has only thrown an average of 28 passes a game, but other SEC teams not throwing a bunch of passes; Arkansas, Texas A&M and Florida have not been as good in pass protection.

On Saturday night, the Crimson Tide will overwhelm the Vandy offensive line, producing five sacks.