Pasquali's Pix: Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason says secondary is Tide's edge vs. Dogs

Alabama sure to earn 11th straight win against Volunteers with ease

Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason leaves the field after the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason leaves the field after the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Who knew this year's Southeastern Conference football championship game would get handicapped so early?

With No. 1 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia off to 4-0 league starts in their divisions, thoughts are already turning - rat poison be darned - to the likelihood of the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs colliding in the 26th conference championship and the first inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Vanderbilt is the only SEC program to face Alabama and Georgia - both are 7-0 - so far this season, and Commodores coach Derek Mason didn't mind offering his opinion about that potential matchup when asked Wednesday on the weekly league teleconference.

"Having played both, Alabama is the better team in my mind," Mason said. "Having seen where they're at, I think they both have potent offenses, and they both have really good running backs. Alabama's receivers are probably a little more experienced in terms of playing in big games, but I think the big difference is really in the secondary.

photo Quarterback Jalen Hurts guided Alabama to a 49-10 win at Tennessee last season, which was the Crimson Tide's 10th straight win in the series.

"Both defensive fronts are pretty good, but Alabama has corners and safeties who are lock-down guys, and they have four or so of those guys who are going to be on NFL rosters. That's what makes the difference. Alabama has a purely dominant defense right now."

Mason's Commodores hosted both teams, losing 59-0 to Nick Saban's Crimson Tide on Sept. 23 and 45-14 to Kirby Smart's Bulldogs on Oct. 7.

Alabama has won its first four SEC games by the average score of 48-8 entering this week's visit from Tennessee, while Georgia's average score so far in league games is 43-11. The Bulldogs are off this week before facing Florida on Oct. 28 in Jacksonville.

Neither Saban nor Smart were asked Wednesday about a potential collision in early December. Saban was asked about Smart's success.

"We worked together for 10 years or so, and some of the good things we did rubbed off," Saban said. "He's a very bright guy, so maybe some of the not-so-good things we did, he probably eliminated. He's created a program of his own, which is being done very, very well."

Pasquali's Pix

Tennessee at Alabama: Honestly, this is anybody's game until Saturday. Crimson Tide 44, Volunteers 6.

Kentucky at Mississippi State: Big-time SEC "pool of six" bowl positioning at stake in this one. Bullies 26, Wildcats 23.

LSU at Ole Miss: Ed Orgeron could win his third conference game this season, which would match his total during his three years with the Rebels. Tigers 27, Rebels 25.

The Citadel at UTC: Will the Russ Huesman era actually be sandwiched by one-win seasons? Bulldogs 24, Mocs 17.

Auburn at Arkansas: Gus Malzahn's Tigers have held the lead in 29 consecutive games yet have lost 11 of them. Tigers 29, Razorbacks 20.

Wake Forest at Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets are 3-2, with both losses coming by a single point. Yellow Jackets 28, Demon Deacons 19.

Southern California at Notre Dame: Only one Power Five conference quarterback (Nebraska's Tanner Lee) has thrown more interceptions than the nine by Southern Cal's Sam Darnold. Fighting Irish 31, Trojans 24.

Michigan at Penn State: The Wolverines lead the nation in total defense, while the Nittany Lions lead the nation in scoring defense. Nittany Lions 10, Wolverines 3.

Last week:

Winners ..................... 18

Aubies ......................... 7

Pasquali is 142-33 overall (81.1 percent) this season.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

Other picks

Missouri 35, Idaho 28Houston 31, Memphis 26MTSU 26, Marshall 25Oklahoma St. 34, Texas 29FSU 19, Louisville 10Duke 22, Pittsburgh 21Virginia 20, Boston Coll. 17Miami 23, Syracuse 14Va. Tech 38, No. Carolina 13Michigan St. 27, Indiana 22Oklahoma 28, Kansas St. 27TCU 45, Kansas 16Wisconsin 42, Maryland 15West Virginia 29, Baylor 24USF 21, Tulane 20Wash. State 24, Colorado 23UCF 30, Navy 19

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