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ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) always predicts the outcome of each college football game ahead of each weekend.
Week 14 is special because it’s Rivalry Week. Teams are finishing up their regular seasons with a ton still at stake. The Tennessee-Vanderbilt game is included, with the model giving the Vols an 80.0% chance to win. This means the Commodores have just a 20.0% chance to upset the Vols in Nashville.
Tennessee enters this game with a 9-2 record. The Vols easily beat UTEP in Week 13, winning 56-0. The team’s losses came to Arkansas and Georgia while the team had a quality win over Alabama. The Vols got some help in Week 13 as Ole Miss and Alabama both picked up their 3rd loss of the season.
Vanderbilt exceeded expectations in 2024 and is already bowl-eligible. However, the team has lost two games in a row, falling to South Carolina and LSU in consecutive weeks. The Commodores made headlines earlier this season by defeating Alabama for the first time in 40 years.
The Commodores are led by quarterback Diego Pavia who transferred from New Mexico State. Pavia has thrown for 2,029 yards, 16 TDs, and 3 INTs. The dual-threat QB also leads the team in rushing with 671 yards and 6 scores.
The Vols, meanwhile, have been buoyed by star running back Dylan Sampson. Sampson is 7th in rushing yards this season with 1,307. The back also has 22 scores on the ground.
Vanderbilt is looking to knock off Tennessee for the first time since 2018. This game will kick off from FirstBank Stadium on Saturday at Noon ET.
Bryce Lazenby covers college football for Saturday Down South. A Nashville native, his previous stops include FanSided, Dimers, and The Leaf-Chronicle.
