Saturday Tailgate: Alabama

Optional Musical Accompaniment

Vanderbilt is out to a 3-1 start on the 2022 season, and as they head into the first bye week ... well, they’re probably going to be 3-2.

Alabama is, of course, the #2 team in the nation, the preseason #1 team in the nation, the six-time national champion under Nick Saban, the team that Vanderbilt got shelled 59-0 by on CBS in 2017, the team that Vanderbilt hasn’t even scored on since 2007. Alabama is a 40.5-point favorite, and we should probably be happy if that scoreless streak ends. The last Vanderbilt player to score a touchdown on Alabama is George Smith, who scored on a 15-yard pass from Mackenzi Adams.

Mackenzi Adams? Yeah, it’s been a minute.

Pregame Reading

• Three matchups to watch: Vanderbilt vs. Alabama
• The Vanderbilt Report: Alabama players and coaches break down SEC opener
• Five for Friday: Alabama
• Andrew Wilf recaps NIU, looks ahead to Alabama
• Behind Enemy Bylines: Alabama Crimson Tide
• The reality facing Vanderbilt football in climb from SEC basement

Vanderbilt News

Men’s tennis opened the Commodore Invitational on Friday, and they’ll continue today at 9 AM. Women’s golf finds itself in second place after the first day of the Mason Rudolph. Swimming split two meets yesterday, losing to LSU but beating Tulane.

Sports on TV (non-college football edition)

All times Central.

• 6:00 AM: PGA Tour: Presidents Cup (Golf Channel)
• 8:00 AM: UEFA Nations League: Armenia v. Ukraine (FS2)
• 11:00 AM: UEFA Nations League: Slovenia v. Norway (FS2)
• 12:00 PM: MLB: Red Sox at Yankees (MLB Network)
• 1:45 PM: UEFA Nations League: Czech Republic v. Portugal (FS2)
• 4:00 PM: MLB: Braves at Phillies or Mets at A’s (MLB Network)
• 6:00 PM: MLB: Angels at Twins or Guardians at Rangers (MLB Network)
• 6:10 PM: MLB: Tigers at White Sox (ESPN+)
• 9:00 PM: MLB: Cardinals at Dodgers or Padres at Rockies (MLB Network)

Scoreboard

MLB: Cubs 6, Pirates 5 ... Brewers 5, Reds 3 ... Marlins 5, Nationals 2 ... Phillies 9, Braves 1 ... Yankees 5, Red Sox 4 ... Orioles 6, Astros 0 ... Rays 10, Blue Jays 6 ... Guardians 6, Rangers 3 ... Angels 4, Twins 2 ... Tigers 5, White Sox 3 ... Rockies 4, Padres 3 ... Royals 5, Mariners 1 ... Mets 9, A’s 2 ... Giants 6, Diamondbacks 5 ... Cardinals 11, Dodgers 0.