[Tuck4Bama]

There are no preseason games in college football but Vanderbilt's first four games could stand as a warmup of sorts to an eight-game stretch that features four teams currently ranked among the top 12 in the country by the Associated Press.

Are there three Commodore victories in those next eight games? They hope so, and in order to break the program's bowl drought that extends back to the 1982 season, there have to be. Bowl-bound teams must win a minimum of six games and Vanderbilt's schedule is full of tough, Southeastern Conference foes.

After winning three of its first four games, all at home, the real work begins for Vanderbilt (3-1, 1-1 SEC). And while veteran Coach Bobby Johnson insists he, his staff and his players are taking the schedule one game at a time, we don't have to.
Here's an overview of what lies ahead for the Commodores on the path to possible postseason play:

Saturday, at Auburn (3-2, 1-1 SEC)

Having to hold off visiting Kansas State in the season opener was a little foreshadowing for the Tigers, who followed with back-to-back home losses to South Florida and Mississippi State. After throttling New Mexico State, Auburn got some of its swagger back in last week's last-second road win over Florida.

Despite the recent resurgence, though, the Tigers may represent Vanderbilt's best chance at its fourth SEC road win in the last three seasons. The Commodores have shown some ability to create turnovers (11), and Auburn has been careless with the football at times (14).

Result: thumbs up

Here is Vanderbilt's blueprint to make a bowl - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 10/03/07