Here’s everything you need to know about Mississippi’s season opener tonight against Boise State inside the Georgia Dome.

When: Today
Where: Nashville, Tennessee
Game Time: 9:15 PM ET
TV: SEC Network
Current Line: Vanderbilt (-13.5)

Game Buzz: First-year coach Derek Mason embarks on his maiden voyage with a Vanderbilt program coming off consecutive nine-win seasons.

Saturday Down South previews

VANDERBILT COMMODORES

Players to watch:

  • QB Patton Robinette
  • RB Ralph Webb
  • RB Jerron Seymour
  • DL Adam Butler
  • LB Kyle Woestmann
  • DB Andrew Williamson

Keys for Vanderbilt:

  • Keep it simple. Going vanilla on offense and not showing all your cards in Week 1’s not a bad idea with next week’s SEC opener coming against Ole Miss. Patton Robinette assumes the full-time starting role under center and handing the ball off to redshirt freshman Ralph Webb and touchdown producer Jerron Seymour would make for an relatively easy outing.
  • Play defense with Mason’s blue collar mentality. Vanderbilt’s strength in the front seven will overpower the Owls and unleashing a couple blitzing linebackers in the 3-4 scheme should make things difficult for Temple quarterback P.J. Walker.
  • Enjoy the new black helmets and updated uniforms. Don’t let the apparel switch backfire as teams often do. If the Commodores play with poise, we’ll likely see the intimidating combination worn again this season.

Commodores’ glaring weakness to watch: Wide Receivers — There’s on Jordan Matthews’ dropping out of the sky tonight in Nashville, but there’s several players who will get the opportunity to step up and make an impact. The dress rehearsal for next week’s league battle with the Rebels, wideouts can separate themselves from the rest of the pack with a big game.

Most interesting part of the game: Vanderbilt’s won 13 of its last 15 games against non-conference opponents and this is Mason’s first-ever game as a head coach after 20 years as an assistant at the college and NFL level.

Team Buzz: Opinions vary  widely on the Commodores’ chances this season in a top-heavy SEC East, but a 48-point drubbing of a team with lesser talent would quiet some of the naysayers, at least temporarily.