What the analytics predict for Vanderbilt vs. Missouri in this Week 9 college football game from an expert model that projects scores, and how it informs our own SI projection.

In a battle of unexpected SEC contenders, No. 15 Missouri travels to Nashville to face No. 10 Vanderbilt in a game with SEC and major College Football Playoff implications. The Commodores, led by dynamic quarterback Diego Pavia, have already stunned the conference, earning their first AP Top 10 ranking since 1947 after an upset victory over LSU.

Keep up with SEC schedules, odds, predictions, kickoff times and more as Week 9 of the college football season continues Oct. 25.

Saturday’s game could determine which surprise SEC contender has a legitimate chance at a playoff spot. A Vanderbilt win would further cement its historic season and validate its rise under head coach Clark Lea. For Missouri, victory would reassert its status as one of the league’s most complete teams.

No. 12 Vanderbilt hosts "College Gameday" and then No. 14 Missouri is a huge SEC football game where the winner stays in the hunt for a CFP hunt.

The Commodores took Missouri to two overtimes last season and they're favored as they return home to Nashville. They're coming off of a 31-24 win against LSU, which was their second triumph against a top-15 team -- LSU ranked 10th entering the Week 8 slate -- this season. Vanderbilt is also undefeated at home.

There are three ranked matchups in the SEC this week, but No. 15 Missouri and No. 10 Vanderbilt will have ESPN College Gameday on site in Nashville. Fresh off their upset win over LSU on Saturday, Diego Pavia and the Commodores have reached the AP top 10 for the first time since 1947.

See our predictions, picks for Vanderbilt football's matchup with Missouri as Diego Pavia plays at FirstBank Stadium with "College GameDay" in town.

The Commodores have never won 10 games, and have won 9 games four times, and two of those were before World War I. The other two were the reason Penn State gave James Franklin their job. Fun fact, Mizzou was 1-1 against Franklin, beating him the second time around 51-28 in 2013.

Comedian and Vanderbilt fan Nate Bargatze has been named "ESPN College GameDay" guest picker ahead of Vanderbilt's matchup with Missouri on Oct. 25.

The Vanderbilt Commodores are doing exactly what they talked about last January when starting to prepare for this season.