Final score predictions for Vanderbilt vs. Tennessee: Can the Commodores actually do the impossible and make the College Football Playoff?

The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been for Vanderbilt, while the Vols can play spoiler and finish a good season strong.

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer
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The Tennessee Volunteers and Vanderbilt Commodores square off on Saturday for the 119th time in their history. However, this might be the most unique and entertaining game in the series.

For the first time ever, Vanderbilt can reach 10 wins as a program with a win over the Vols. At No. 14 in the College Football Playoff rankings, there’s still an outside shot that they could climb into contention for a spot in the field. It’s an ironic turnaround from one year prior, when the Vols defeated Vandy 36-23 to earn their first-ever playoff appearance.

Diego Pavia and Joey Aguilar are two of the best quarterbacks not just in the SEC, but in the nation, and the points should be piling up when the two take the field. There also won’t be a lack of confidence with Vanderbilt with Pavia on the field, nor a lack of motivation from Tennessee and their players based on Pavia’s offseason comments.

How will this one play out? Our panel of four A to Z Sports writers weighed in with their thoughts and score predictions.

Tennessee 45, Vanderbilt 38

Vanderbilt has a lot on the line in this game, which means they’ll likely be the team that feels more pressure. I think that pressure combined with what’s expected to be an energetic crowd in Neyland Stadium will play a big factor in this matchup. I’d expect Vanderbilt to counter by trying to get the ball out of Diego Pavia’s hands quickly. This feels like a game that could turn into a shootout, which I believe favors the Volunteers.

But with that said, I think Tennessee’s defense will come up with a big defensive score and that’ll be the difference. – Zach Ragan, A to Z Sports Tennessee

Vanderbilt 34, Tennessee 31

Has there been a bigger Tennessee/Vanderbilt game in recent memory? We’ve seen the Commodores come into this game needing a win to become bowl eligible, but this season, it’s something different. Both teams still have a chance to make the College Football Playoff.

Now, it’s more of an outside shot for the Volunteers having three losses, but Diego Pavia has Vanderbilt with just two losses: Alabama and Texas, and we know how the committee views quality losses. They put a whooping on Kentucky this past week, and Pavia had six total touchdowns in the win. They are capable of an offensive explosion, which plays right into the hands of the Volunteers.

Coming off a potentially program changing win in The Swamp, Tennessee is riding high, and the running game is carrying them. That’s not to say Joey Aguilar isn’t playing well, but they have struck a balance on offense that will carry them in this game.

Will that be enough to take out the Commodores? These teams are both really good, but the story of Pavia will continue, as the Commodores find a way to win and make the playoff. – Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Florida

Tennessee 38, Vanderbilt 27

Tennessee showed on Saturday night that it can win in a number of ways. With Florida taking away the deep pass and daring the Vols to run, they did just that, plowing through the Gator defense for 248 yards on the way to an easy 31-11 win in Gainesville.

The Commodores will present a new challenge altogether. Diego Pavia is playing at an even higher level than last year and will present a strong challenge to Tennessee’s defense with his dual threat ability. Tennessee’s defense hasn’t faced many quarterbacks of Pavia’s ilk this season, but Georgia’s Gunnar Stockton and Arkansas’ Taylen Green both notched a rushing and multiple passing touchdowns on their defense.

But I still see Tennessee having too much firepower on offense in this one. The Commodores’ defense is better this year, but they haven’t faced an offense like Tennessee’s yet with its pace and weapons in the passing game. Aguilar goes for over 300 and multiple touchdowns, and Tennessee lands the big blow late to spoil the Commodores’ dream season. – Craig Smith, A to Z Sports, Tennessee

Vanderbilt 31, Tennessee 28

Tennessee and Vanderbilt meet Saturday in Knoxville with a little more edge than the oddsmakers suggest. The Vols opened as a 2.5-point favorite and sit at -150 on the moneyline, but it’s Vanderbilt that comes in with the bigger stakes. The Commodores are 9-2, still mathematically alive for the College Football Playoff, and Diego Pavia just threw for a career high 484 yards in a 45-17 win over Kentucky.

This is a clash of two quarterbacks who want to throw it, two offenses that can score in bunches, and two defenses that have been stretched thin all season. Tennessee has won seven straight in the series, including last year’s 36-23 matchup, and hasn’t lost to Vandy at home since 2017, but the Commodores have covered in five of their past six and carry the hotter hand.

The series history leans orange, but the momentum, the quarterback, and the urgency lean black and gold. If this turns into a last-possession game, Vanderbilt has the better closing act. – Nick Wright, A to Z Sports Texas

So, there you have it. The four writers split down the middle on the game as to who will prevail on Saturday. The average score of the game is Tennessee 35.5, Vanderbilt 32.5, or 36-33 rounding up. In other words, this should be a high scoring, close game that really could go either way on Saturday.

We’ll find out soon enough, as toe meets leather shortly after 3:30 pm ET on Saturday inside Neyland Stadium.

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