{"id":246887,"date":"2025-10-23T20:08:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T20:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/246887\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T20:08:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T20:08:07","slug":"greg-mcelroy-reveals-his-pick-for-missouri-at-vanderbilt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/246887\/","title":{"rendered":"Greg McElroy reveals his pick for Missouri at Vanderbilt"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the highest-ranked matchups of the weekend will kick off in Nashville<\/a> on Saturday afternoon with No. 15 Missouri<\/a> vs. No. 10 Vanderbilt<\/a>, which will be the site of \u2018College GameDay\u2019<\/a>. That\u2019s a ton of hype on this one between the Tigers and Commodores<\/a> in Music City.<\/p>\n

On \u2018Always College Football\u2019<\/a>, Greg McElroy<\/a> previewed and predicted the Top-15 matchup between Mizzou and Vandy. He sees it as a conference game in the SEC<\/a> with implications on it for the overall sport as well as for this season in the College Football Playoff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo think what this game means to the college football landscape, the College Football Playoff landscape<\/a>? Could this serve as an elimination game in the College Football Playoff? Possibly. You could make that case,\u201d said McElroy. \u201cBoth teams right now are 6-1, 2-1 in the SEC. Vanderbilt has had a storybook season<\/a> under Clark Lea<\/a>, to be sitting at No. 10 in the Associated Press Poll<\/a>\u2026And then, Missouri? They\u2019re No. 15 in the country<\/a>, and they just continue to sustain success.\u201d<\/p>\n

In breaking the game down, McElroy first went with time of possession as a key. That\u2019s with both teams being among the nation\u2019s best in keeping the ball based on how they each play offense, and it being the basis in how they\u2019ve been winning games this fall.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho will win time of possession in this game? The Missouri Tigers are number four nationally in time of possession. They control the ball for over 34.5 minutes per game. And we know that, for Vanderbilt to win football games, they really put a huge emphasis on time of possession. They want to shorten the game, they want to lean on you, and they want to be efficient with four and five-yard plays. They\u2019re not worried about hitting the big chunk yardage because they don\u2019t want to expose their defense, overexpose their defense to extended snap plays that they\u2019re going to have to defend. So, they possess the ball for 31:45 in the game,\u201d said McElroy. \u201cWhoever wins time of possession really has a chance, more than maybe any other game this season, to win the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of that, McElroy also highlighted each of their respective run games. They both maintain possession by being among the best rushing attacks in the country, with the Tigers at 244.9 yards per game and the Commodores at 213 per game. <\/p>\n

\u201cCan Missouri continue to lean on the running game?\u201d McElroy asked. \u201cThey are a top-seven offense in the country when it comes to running the football. They average about, just under 250 a game. And the focal point of this rushing offense is Ahmad Hardy<\/a>. He\u2019s been fantastic\u2026And the offensive line has done a really good job of creating some movement. I think their backs are really good at finding lanes, really good at breaking tackles. And it allows the Tigers to kind of control the football and to methodically wear down the opposing defense.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWill Vanderbilt\u2019s offense stay on schedule?\u201d also asked McElroy. \u201cTheir entire offensive identity is remarkably efficient. They also are really good at finishing drives\u2026The thing about this, though, is they\u2019re really good on third down\u2026They want to make it manageable, they want to get to 3rd & 2 and 3. That\u2019s where they can decide, well, we can run it or we can throw it when they get into those manageable situations\u2026It allows them to lean on those long, clock-draining drives that ultimately wear down the opponent\u2019s defense and maximizes their scoring opportunities on every possession.\u201d<\/p>\n

McElroy did also note the quarterback play of Beau Pribula<\/a> as well as Diego Pavia<\/a>. He put a focus on the turnover battle as well. But, with each of their identities, the winners in the run game and on the clock are likely going to be the winner of this game on the scoreboard with how these two teams profile.<\/p>\n

That all said, McElroy went with Vanderbilt to win this weekend on West End. He sees them as a better team, that\u2019s playing better overall and will do so on their home field on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to take Vanderbilt,\u201d said McElroy. \u201cI think they\u2019re the more complete football team. I think they\u2019re playing at. ridiculously high level, and I trust their quarterback a little bit more than I do the Missouri Tigers.\u201d<\/p>\n

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