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A win against undefeated Houston could be all Vanderbilt (3-4) needs to save its season and head to 2016 with a little momentum.
Houston (7-0) is ranked No. 18 and a double-digit favorite at home against a Vanderbilt team that opened the season with a non-conference loss to Western Kentucky.
Houston ranks fourth nationally in scoring (47.6), though it has yet to play a team with a winning record.
Vanderbilt will be its next such opponent. For the Commodores to get to .500, these players must play well:
1. WR/RB Darrius Sims: Though the offense continues to be run through RB Ralph Webb (907 yards, 4 TDs), Sims has proven to be the playmaker this team desperately needs. Vandy lines him up all over the place, getting him touches in various ways. After gaining 101 yards from scrimmage in his first five games, Sims has since gained 213 yards from scrimmage in the past two games. Expect another 100 yard game from the junior athlete.
2. TE Steven Scheu: No position has been hit harder with the injury bug than the tight ends. TE Deandre Woods is out for the season with a knee injury and WR/TE hybrid Kris Kentra remains questionable for Saturday’s game with a undisclosed issue. That leaves Scheu as the top tight end on the depth chart. If Kentra is out again, Scheu will need to play just about every snap.
3. S Andrew Williamson: Williamson, a senior, has been one of Vanderbilt’s top defenders since being named a starter in his first season. His ability to cover the middle of the field, end-to-end, is a big reason Vanderbilt held Missouri to just 108 passing yards last week. He’ll have a huge role against Houston’s high-octane offense.
4. CB Taurean Ferguson: The Commodores rank last in the SEC with three interceptions in seven games. Houston has throw just two interceptions this season. Vanderbilt likely won’t force turnovers in the secondary, but the secondary can impact the game in other ways. Missouri was 0-for-14 on third down last week. Vandy’s corners played a huge role in that, batting down two balls.
5. LB Zach Cunningham: Vandy is without Nigel Bowden, their 2014 Freshman All-SEC linebacker and leading tackler, so Cunningham has moved into the middle of the defense. Cunningham leads the team in tackles, 36, and tackles for loss, 5.5, since taking over for the injured-Bowden, who continues to recover from a concussion. The sophomore will be tested against the seventh-best rushing team in college football (Houston- 291.6 rushing yards per game), especially with Bowden unlikely to play.
