Vanderbilt vs Missouri Prediction & Betting Tips - September 21 | College Football Week 4
The Vanderbilt Commodores go on the road to play the Missouri Tigers on Saturday, September 21 at 4:15 p.m. ET. The game can be watched on the SEC Network.
Vanderbilt is off to a surprise 2-1 start but is coming off a stunning upset loss to Georgia State in Week 3. Missouri, meanwhile, is ranked No. 7 and is 3-0.
Vanderbilt vs Missouri: Prediction
The Vanderbilt Commodores are 20-point underdogs on Saturday against the Missouri Tigers.
Vanderbilt has a much better roster this season, but Missouri is a legit contender in the SEC. The Tigers did have to rally to beat Boston College at home in Week 3. Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook threw for 264 yards and one touchdown in that game.
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea knows his defense will have their hands full against this Tigers offense.
"It's a challenge," Lea said, via SI. "We did not play well against these guys a year ago, particularly on the deep ball ... The identity of the offense is built around the stretch running game. That's an effective tool over four quarters.
"Every time that play is run, you have a chance at times to hit it in the line of scrimmage or behind, but you slip one gap ... if you get separated defensively, that becomes a really challenging play, then everything from there is built off that stretch run," Lea added.
However, Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz believes this is the best roster Vanderbilt has had. He also knows the Commodores are led by its defense, which he says getting plays on will be tough.
“I think it's a significant difference," Drinkwitz said of Vanderbilt's 2024 defense. "It's definitely coach Lea’s defense. They're definitely doing things differently than they have done in the past, in the three previous years that we've competed against him."
Despite Vanderbilt having a good defense, this is a good spot to take Missouri at home here. Playing in Missouri is tough, and Cook should have a bounce-back game in Week 4 after his early struggles against Boston College.
Cook looked better in the second half and that momentum should continue here. Vanderbilt's offense, meanwhile, should struggle against Missouri's defense, which has been solid this season.
Prediction: Missouri 41, Vanderbilt 20
Missouri vs Vanderbilt: Betting Tips
Tip 1: Missouri -20 (-110)
Tip 2: Over 53.5 (-110)
Tip 3: Brady Cook 257+ passing yards (-120)
Tip 4: Sedrick Alexander over 36 rushing yards (-120)