Zak Drapeau's CFB Game of the Week: Vanderbilt at Texas

Zak Drapeau
2 minutes ago
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by Zak Drapeau 10/31/2025 Sportz Nation

Game Preview

While College Gameday is visiting the Cincinnati-Utah game, the real action will be going down in Austin when the Vanderbilt Commodores visit the Longhorns.

Graphic by ESPN College Football via Youtube.com

Both teams have opposite auras this season if you will. Vanderbilt being the Cinderella team who was never supposed to be here but is playing some of the best football in the country and Texas being an extreme favorite in the preseason but hasn't lived up to those expectations.

Texas is 6-2 on the season with a number of close games. Their defense hasn't been as dominant as we once thought they would be and Arch Manning didn't quite tak that step toward Heisman level. On the year, they are 4-0 at home including a DOMINANT win over Oklahoma in their last outing. When Vandy comes to town, they will have a 1-2 record in away games including losing their last at Alabama.

Vanderbilt

The Commodores are currently ranked #9 in the nation and seem to be on the fast track to making the College Football Playoffs. Led by Quarterback Diego Pavia, Vandy has been on fire and has only lost to Alabama in Tuscaloosa this season. Head Coach Clark Lea has led one of the most drastic turnarounds in College Football history after last year's shock win against Alabama to having his team ranked within the Top-10 since 1947.

Their Quarterback Diego Pavia has a serious at the Heisman this season with 20 Total Touchdowns and 5 Interceptions and obviously having a highly-competitive, 7-1 record. Pavia is not only the leader on the field but the clear leader off the field with his competitive nature and intense work ethic.

The leadership of Pavia and Lea has shown with Vandy being 7-1 on the season including wins over Missouri, LSU and South Carolina. With a 3-1 SEC record, Vandy's next few games are going to be crucial for them to make it to the Playoffs as they want to and that starts with Texas. In their next 4 games, they will go to Texas and Tennessee and have Auburn and Kentucky come to Nashville.

Texas

For the Longhorns, starting the season ranked #1 and "never living up to it" has been tough on them yet they're still ranked and have a shot at making the playoffs. The Longhorns have been a good team throughout the season and are 6-2 and also have a 3-1 record within the SEC.

Their season has centered around the Media Circus of Arch Manning's first season as starter while also having one of, if not the most-skilled defenses in the country. Having lofty expectations like that are the reason they came into the season ranked #1 and after an opening weekend loss to Ohio State and an errant weekend in the Swamp, people have been writing them off.

In my most recent Updated College Football Rankings, I have Texas as my #15th ranked school, much higher than the AP's #20.

A huge factor for this game will be Texas' home field advantage. Playing this game in DR-Memorial Stadium means they'll be playing a game they haven't lost all season against a team that is 1-2 on the road.

Zak's Picks

So far on the season I am 11-7 in my picks for Game of the Weeks. Last week I took Ole Miss +5.5 but I also had Under/51.5 points for the game.

This week the lines will be Texas -3 and O/U 46.5.

I will have to take the Over/46.5 in this game but the game line is where it gets tricky.

I will tentatively take Texas -3 for the game and I think they win by one score or less. Both teams have a great defense and I truly believe this will be a game won in the 4th Quarter and it may be by a field goal making this line a push.