Charleston Southern vs Vanderbilt Prediction 8/30/2025 Today’s College Football Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Charleston Southern vs Vanderbilt Prediction for this College Football Week 1 game on Saturday, August 30^th at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this College Football matchup.

Vanderbilt Preview

Vanderbilt finished last season with a 7-6 overall record and had a 3-5 conference record in the SEC. Offensively last season, the Commodores scored 27.3 points per game, while allowing 23.4 points per game defensively. Vanderbilt averaged 139.8 rushing yards and 178.6 passing yards per game. They allowed 140.8 rushing yards per game and 235.7 passing yards per game.

Diego Pavia led the Commodores last season with 177/298 completed passes and 2,293 total passing yards. He also had 20 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Sedrick Alexander led the team in rushing yards, with 586 and 6 touchdowns, while Eli Stowers had a team-high 49 caught passes for 638 receiving yards, and had 5 touchdowns. Junior Sherrill caught 29 passes for 411 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

Defensively, Bryan Longwell had a team-high 89 total tackles, 40 of them solo, while Nicholas Rinaldi had a team-high 6.0 total sacks, and CJ Taylor had a team-high 2 interceptions.

Charleston Southern Preview

Charleston Southern finished last season with a 1-11 overall record and had a 0-8 conference record in the Big South–OVC. Offensively last season, the Buccaneers scored 14.3 points per game, while allowing 26.8 points per game defensively. Charleston Southern averaged 124.2 rushing yards and 143.8 passing yards per game. They allowed 152.8 rushing yards per game and 200.8 passing yards per game.

Kaleb Jackson led the Buccaneers last season with 69/131 completed passes and 826 total passing yards. He also had 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Rob McCoy Jr. added 78/132 passes for 819 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Autavius Ison led the team in rushing yards, with 790 and 4 touchdowns, while Chris Rhone had a team-high 34 caught passes for 586 receiving yards, and had 4 touchdowns. Noah Jennings caught 46 passes for 475 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

Defensively, Steve Zayachkowsky had a team-high 78 total tackles, 50 of them solo, while Darrius Bell had a team-high 6.0 total sacks, and Trayson Fowler had a team-high 1 interception.

Why Vanderbilt Will Win

• Vanderbilt has won each of its last six home games against non-conference opponents.
• Vanderbilt has won each of its last five games against non-conference opponents at FirstBank Stadium.
• Vanderbilt has won 12 of its last 13 games against non-FBS teams.
• Vanderbilt has won each of its last six games as a home favorite.
• Vanderbilt has won each of its last three home openers.
• The favorite has won 22 of Vanderbilt’s last 25 games at FirstBank Stadium.

Why Charleston Southern will win

• Vanderbilt has lost 12 of its last 13 games against teams from South Carolina.
• Vanderbilt has lost 25 of its last 28 games as an underdog in Tennessee.

Total Points facts

• Fourteen of Vanderbilt’s last 15 games against non-conference opponents have gone OVER the total points line.
• Five of Vanderbilt’s last six games against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.
• Each of Vanderbilt’s last three home openers have gone OVER the total points line.
• Each of Vanderbilt’s last three games in August have gone OVER the total points line.

Charleston Southern vs Vanderbilt Prediction

In their only previous meeting back in 2014, Vanderbilt won 21-20 at home, not covering the spread, as the game went under the 50-point total.

In this Charleston Southern vs Vanderbilt Prediction, Vanderbilt is coming as -36.5-point home favorites. Vanderbilt is rightfully favored, as the competition difference is huge and Charleston was terrible even in the Big South–OVC last season. They had only one win in their 12 overall games, while Vanderbilt was a strong 5-3 at home, and 8-4 against the spread. Vandy had a dream season in 2024, and this year they have got even more experience and some transfer help, so I expect them to dominate their inferior opponents today in front of their home crowd in the season opener. Take Vanderbilt and lay the -36.5 points in this one.