Vanderbilt rules out QB Blaze Berlowitz and six others for Arkansas homecoming

Vanderbilt will play its homecoming game against Arkansas on Saturday without seven players. Backup quarterback Blaze Berlowitz leads the list after breaking his collarbone in last week's 52-17 home loss to Ole Miss, according to the SEC's first availability report as reported by The Tennessean.

The starting quarterback is not on the report. Jared Curtis missed the Georgia game with an injury, came back against Ole Miss and has no listed designation this week. That leaves Vanderbilt with its starter but without the backup who filled in for him. The Tennessean's Aria Gerson also reported damage on the offensive line. Gunner Givens is out for the season after hip surgery, and Mitchell Smith will miss a few weeks after a knee procedure. Defensive lineman Aaron Bryant is done for the year with a torn ACL. Cornerback Jaylin Lackey, linebacker Jamison Curtis and receiver Kahden Smith are also out.

The defense has more question marks. Starting safety Dontae Carter is questionable, along with edge Brian Allen Jr. and defensive lineman Hayden Bray. Defensive lineman Nikhil Jefferson is doubtful, and cornerback Martel Hight is probable. The injuries come in the same week Vanderbilt dismissed receiver Kayleb Barnett following his arrest, National Football Post reported via Field Level Media. Coach Clark Lea called Monday one of his worst days with the program and told reporters, "Discipline isn't just something that you bring to the game on Saturday."

Arkansas has a shorter list. Defensive back Braydon Lee and tight end Maddox Lassiter are out, offensive lineman Josiah Clemons is doubtful, and receiver Antonio Jordan and tight end Gavin Garretson are questionable.

What it means for Saturday

Both teams are 0-3 in the SEC, so one of them will get its first conference win in Nashville (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2). Vanderbilt is 3-3 and has lost three straight after a 3-0 start. Its defense has gotten worse each week in that stretch, allowing 21 points at Auburn, 38 at Georgia and 52 to Ole Miss. The offense scored at least 28 in each of the first three games but has topped out at 17 since.

Arkansas is 2-4 and looked better in its last game than its record suggests. The Razorbacks led No. 15 Tennessee 14-7 in the third quarter before losing 24-17. Scoring has been their problem: they have 24 points in their last two games, and Field Level Media noted they converted just 2 of 11 third downs against the Volunteers. That is the matchup to watch with Carter's status uncertain at the back of Vanderbilt's defense.

On this site's board, Vanderbilt is favored at -203 on Novig's moneyline. Arkansas is +194 at Novig and +197 at Polymarket, the best price among the 11 venues. Novig has the Commodores favored by 6.5 at +102. Hard Rock Bet has the shortest number, Vanderbilt -5.5 at -120, so the venues are a full point apart on the spread. The total is 50.5 at Novig and as low as 49.5 at BetMGM. Sportsbook hold on the game runs from about 3.4% to 6.8%. With the backup quarterback out, Vanderbilt's chances depend more than usual on Curtis staying healthy.