By BRADY ACKERMAN
Florida Gators Football Sideline Reporter
The Gators travel to Nashville looking to put back-to-back wins together for the first time since September. Vanderbilt plays much better at home and Vanderbilt Stadium has historically been a difficult venue for championship Gator teams. The kickoff time is in the morning with the weather likely playing a factor for the first time this season. It should be very cold which is always a concern for any team from the state of Florida this time of year. On the field the Commodores have lost three in a row and are looking for just their second SEC win.
The Gator offense will continue to try to get off to a faster start against the Commodores. UF has only scored 14 first-quarter points all season and all of those came against Kentucky. Vanderbilt has been decent in the first quarter giving up just 38 points all season.
The Commodores usually play well at home on defense, holding LSU to 27 points and South Carolina to just 21 points. Middle Linebacker Chris Marve will be the guy the Gators need to block on the inside run game. Marve is averaging seven tackles a game in conference match-ups. The Gators improved their first down offense last week and need to improve their third down conversion rate. Look for John Brantley to throw his first touchdown pass since the Kentucky game.
Frankie Hammond Jr. has been emerging as a potential threat on third down, replacing Carl Moore as the go-to guy. Moore will try to get more involved this week and I anticipate that the Gators will have over 200 yards passing against the Commodores. Casey Hayward at cornerback is talented and tied for the SEC lead with five interceptions.
Florida must get back to forcing three and outs on defense. In the first month of the season Teryl Austin
