Bowl hopes will be boosted for the Vanderbilt-UNLV winner

By he Associated Press The Associated Press
Vanderbilt running back Patrick Smith (4) catches a fumbled snap by quarterback AJ Swann (5) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Chuck Burton]

Vanderbilt plays at UNLV on Saturday in Las Vegas. The Commodores are 2-1 and UNLV is 1-1. Vanderbilt is favored by 4 1/2 points. UNLV won the only previous meeting, 34-10, in 2019 in Nashville. A victory would boost either team’s bowl hopes. Vanderbilt soon faces the gauntlet of eight SEC games in a row. UNLV finally faces a more comparable opponent after opening with FCS team Bryant and No. 2 Michigan.

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