Saturday Predictions: Maybe Derek Mason will fare better than Rod Dowhower?

The last time Vanderbilt’s football team went to South Bend, it was 1995, and the Commodores we’re coming off a weirdly close loss to Alabama in Rod Dowhower’s first game as head coach, losing 33-25.

His second game coaching the Commodores resulted in a 41-0 loss, which was more typical of his tenure.

Saturday’s game will feature a significantly better Vanderbilt team than the one that traveled to South Bend in 1995. Will it be enough to get a win? We shall see.

Look, if you read the Q&A I did at One Foot Down, you’ve probably already seen my prediction. This will be a real test for Vanderbilt’s offense, but I also think the defense has a chance at keeping the Irish in check. I will actually…