Vanderbilt 2023 Future Odds

Return of Quarterback AJ Swann Should Give Vanderbilt Explosive Offense

July 19, 2023 324 4 minutes readNCAAF Picks & Parlays

2023 Vanderbilt Commodores Odds: Improving Vanderbilt Eyeing The Program's First Bowl Game Since 2018 — ANDY LYONS / GETTY IMAGES

Early Schedule Boosts Vanderbilt’s Confidence

There was enough progress at Florida showed that better times could be coming.

One issue with Vanderbilt is the challenge of bringing in transfers due to the rigid academic standards. The Commodores rank 14th out of 14 SEC teams in the 247sports.com incoming transfer ratings. Vanderbilt is also last in the SEC rankings for incoming freshmen, so the growth that the Commodores showed in 2022 didn’t translate to the recruiting trail just yet.

The season begins with a home game against Hawaii on Aug. 26. TheUAB in 2013.

Swann to Get ing Grades

Vanderbilt hasn’t had a quarterback finish in the top five in the SEC in ing yards per game since Kyle Shurmur in 2017. Could that change with AJ Swann returning for his sophomore season? Certainly, Swann’s play as a true freshman has an impact on the 2023 Vanderbilt Commodores odds.

Swann completed 58% of his es for 2,248 yards to go with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He did struggle against the elite teams with no touchdowns in blowout losses to Tennessee.

Will Sheppard, Jayden McGowan, and Quincy Skinner all return after combining for 14 TD receptions and the offensive line has plenty of returning players. Losing running back Ray Davis leaves some big shoes to fill.

The offense will need to be explosive since the defense allowed more yards per offensive play (6.95) than any other SEC team. The Commodores gave up more plays of 40, 50, 60, and 70 yards than any of their conference rivals.

National Championships Odds: Let’s Not Get Carried Away

Leave the discussions about national title odds to the baseball field and not part of the 2023 Vanderbilt Commodores odds when it comes to the football program. Vanderbilt is trending in the right direction for the first time since being bowl eligible six times from 2008-2018.

Playing in a conference with two-time defending national champion Georgia, perennial title contender Alabama as well as LSU and Tennessee, Vanderbilt has plenty of work to do while dealing with different academic standards than the rest of the conference.

Conference Odds: Moving Out of the Cellar?

The goal for Vanderbilt should be to move up in the standings. Since 1960, the Commodores have only won twice as George MacIntyre led the 1982 team to a 4-2 mark in SEC play and James Franklin’s 2012 squad went 5-3 in conference games.

Vanderbilt opens conference play against Kentucky, Missouri, and Florida and those are games where the Commodores might be competitive before things get real in a hurry with a home game against Georgia.

Regular Season Wins: Commodores Could Go Over

After posting five wins in 2022, the reward was an expected win total of 3.5. Two of those five wins came against Elon and Northern Illinois and those teams are not on the schedule in 2023.

A game at UNLV so there are certainly some possibilities for victories before conference play gets underway.

SEC competition begins with back-to-back home games against Kentucky and Missouri. When looking at the NCAA football scores, the Commodores lost by three points to Missouri and upset Kentucky 24-21 last season and both of those wins were on the road.

It would be quite an accomplishment if Vanderbilt went over 3.5 wins by the midway point of the season. Of course, the teams that Vanderbilt beat or nearly came away with wins against might take them a little more seriously this season.

Alabama and LSU aren’t on the Auburn in the second half of the season will be rather challenging.

To Make The Playoffs: Playoffs?

It won’t be a surprise if Georgia and Alabama are both part of the College Football Playoff field. Can LSU or Tennessee play their way into the conversation? Perhaps.

Vanderbilt? Considering that the Commodores lost to Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee by a combined score of 166-3, let’s not get carried away.

If Vanderbilt can get into a bowl game, the 2023 season would be considered a success.

For Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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July 19, 2023

324 4 minutes read