Overview

• ESPN College GameDay is in Tuscaloosa for Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a year after Vanderbilt stunned then-No. 1 Alabama 40-35.
• Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia enters with 1,211 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and a 74%+ completion rate, plus a team-high 294 rushing yards and a top-10 passer rating.
• Alabama’s Ty Simpson has completed 69.3% of his passes for 1,138 yards with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions, and the Tide have won 35 of their last 36 home games.
• Analysts highlight Alabama’s trouble against the run after allowing 200+ rushing yards to Florida State and Georgia, a potential opening for Pavia’s dual-threat offense.
• Turnover margin and third downs are flagged as swing factors, with Alabama still turnover-free and +7 and Vanderbilt at +5, and many predictions lean Tide by a single score, including Joel Klatt’s 31-21 call as Nick Saban urges caution about an improved Commodores team.