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Vanderbilt at Western Kentucky Free College Football Picks & Odds
by Josh Schonwald - 9/20/2016 
L.T. Smith Stadium

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

The Vanderbilt Commodores take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at L.T. Smith Stadium. The opening line for this game has Western Kentucky as 7.5 point favorites. This season the Commodores are 1-2-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 1-1-1. The Hilltoppers have an over/under record of 0-3-0 and they are 1-2-0 against the spread.


Kyle Shurmur finished with 149 yards through the air for Vanderbilt last week. He completed 17 passes out of 26 attempts for a 65% completion percentage. The Commodores were led in rushing by Ralph Webb, who finished with 69 yards on 18 rushes. He ended the contest with an average of 4 yards per carry. Kalija Lipscomb was the team leader in receiving with a total of 59 yards and 6 receptions. He finished the game with an average of 10 yards per reception. As a team in that game Vanderbilt got a total of 17 first downs. Of those first downs, 4 came on the ground while 12 came through the air. They ran 61 total plays for 275 yards for the game. The Commodores ran for 85 yards on 30 attempts.

Mike White finished with 268 yards passing for Western Kentucky last week. He went 19 for 31, resulting in a 61% completion percentage. The Hilltoppers were led on the ground by Quinton Baker, who finished with 103 yards on 20 carries. He ended the game with an average of 5 yards per rush. Nicholas Norris led the team in receiving with 187 yards and 11 catches. He finished the game with an average of 17 yards per reception. Western Kentucky had 19 first downs total. 7 came from running the ball and 10 came from a pass. They ran 66 total plays for 404 yards for the contest. The Hilltoppers ran for 136 yards on 35 carries as a team.

Vanderbilt scores 21.3 points per game on offense this season, which ranks 105th in Division 1. In the passing department, they average 14.3 passes on 27.3 attempts for a 52.4 percent completion percentage this season. They throw for a total of 125.3 yards per game through the air as well, which ranks them 125th in college football. The Commodores run for an average of 161.7 yards per game on 39 attempts for an average of 4.1 yards per carry. That ranks them 80th in the nation. They also run 66.3 plays per contest and average 4.3 yards per play for an average of 287 yards per game, ranking their offense 124th overall this season. The Commodores average 16.7 first downs per game which ranks them 115th in the country. They accumulate 39.3 penalty yards per game via 4.7 penalties, which ranks 117th in the nation.

Vanderbilt allows 269.3 passing yards per game, ranking 103rd in D-1, and they allow 25 points per contest on defense, which ranks 68th. They give up 20.7 completions on 37.3 attempts per game for a completion percentage of 55.4. The Commodores allow 168.7 rushing yards per game on 33 carries for an average of 5.1 yards per carry, which ranks their rush defense 88th in the country. Vanderbilt allows 438 total yards per game including 6.2 yards per play, which ranks their overall defense 101st in terms of yards per game. They force 1.7 turnovers per contest and get flagged for 6.7 penalties for 66 yards per game, ranking them 90th among D-1 teams.

Western Kentucky averages 29 points per game this season on offense, which ranks them 77th in the country. In the passing department, they complete 21.3 passes per game on 34.7 attempts for a 61.5 percent completion percentage. They throw for 345.3 yards through the air per game, ranking them 14th in Division 1. The Hilltoppers run for an average of 85.3 yards per game on 29 attempts for an average of 2.9 yards per carry this season, which ranks them 123rd on the ground. They also run 63.7 plays per game and average 6.8 yards per play for a total of 430.7 yards per game, ranking them 59th in the country on offense. The Hilltoppers get an average of 18 first downs per game, which ranks 101st in the nation. They average 73 penalty yards per game via 6.3 penalties, ranking them 29th in college football.

Western Kentucky allows an average of 291 passing yards yards per game, which ranks 116th in Division 1. Their defense overall allows 25.3 points per contest, which has them ranked 69th in the nation. They give up 22.3 completions on 40 attempts for a completion percentage of 55.8 per game. The Hilltoppers allow 104.7 rushing yards per contest on 36.7 carries for a 2.9 average per rush, ranking their overall rush defense 30th in the country. Western Kentucky allows 395.7 total yards per game for an average of 5.2 yards per play, which ranks 75th in D-1. They force 1.3 turnovers per contest and 11 penalties for 77.7 yards in each contest, ranking 114th in the nation.

Vanderbilt Betting Trends

Vanderbilt is 1-1-1 against the over/under this season

Vanderbilt has an ATS record of 1-2-0 this season

Western Kentucky Betting Trends

Western Kentucky is 0-3-0 against the over/under this season

Western Kentucky has an ATS record of 1-2-0 this season

Injuries to Watch

Western Kentucky

09/18/16 RB D'Andre Ferby Shoulder "?" Saturday vs. Vanderbilt
09/18/16 DB Marcus Ward Undisclosed "?" Saturday vs. Vanderbilt
09/06/16 RB Leon Allen Knee out indefinitely
08/27/16 QB Nelson Fishback Pectoral out for season

Josh's Pick: Take Vanderbilt

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