Alabama vs. Vanderbilt live stream: Game time and how to watch Saturday’s game online

Vanderbilt is off to its best start in six seasons — but getting to 4-0 will require the biggest win in program history. The Commodores will welcome No. 1 Alabama to Nashville Saturday for a game that will put the newfound SEC East contenders to the test.

The Crimson Tide have fallen into their familiar wrecking ball pattern, but they’ll face a surprisingly stern challenge when they head to Tennessee. Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason is the architect of a defense that ranks first in the nation in scoring defense (4.7 points allowed per game), total defense (198 yards allowed), and passing yards allowed.

Alabama will need dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts to make plays through the air and on the ground to prevent Vandy’s upset bid. While the Tide are the more talented team, the Commodores are certainly ready for this week’s challenge.

It was faint, because 20,000 of the announced 38,000 sellout crowd in Vanderbilt Stadium were Kansas State fans, but you could hear it:

“WE WANT BAMA. WE WANT BAMA.”

So the real takeaway here, aside from the fact that Vanderbilt was roughly equal to the #18 team in the country (which seems pretty damn important), is that Vanderbilt took advantage of the opportunity instead of blowing it.

Hey, that’s something.

Alabama started fast and finished rough to take down a game but overmatched Colorado State team by a score of 41-23. To be sure, this performance wasn’t as dominant as it could have been based on the talent discrepancy, but it is in fact game three with a new offensive coordinator and a banged up defense. As mentioned in the broadcast, the coaching staff was clearly using this game to continue testing some things.

If you’re worried about the apparent vulnerability of Alabama’s defense in this game, take solace in this quarter-by-quarter progression: this has the hallmark trend of a beaten opponent making the most of 4th quarter garbage time style points.

Shurmur has made the jump in 2017, going from prospect to potential All-SEC quarterback after leading the Vanderbilt offense to a revival. He’s responsible for 10 Commodore touchdowns — eight passing, two rushing — and has looked like the finest Vandy passer since Jay Cutler played on West End. However, he hasn’t faced a defense like Alabama’s. Ever. If Shurmur truly is an NFL quarterback, he’ll find a way to deal with the Tide’s smothering attack.

The Commodores look as good as they’ve ever looked under Derek Mason — and maybe as good as they’ve ever looked in the modern era. But can a roster filled with three-star recruits compete with Tuscaloosa’s football factory? Vanderbilt will hang tough early, but Bama’s skill gap should lead to a Crimson Tide victory late.