The LSU offense was without its top receiver against South Carolina. Aaron Anderson went down with multiple injuries against Ole Miss, and was sidelined for the entire second half. Tiger fans were hoping the bye week would give him enough time to return to the field against the Gamecocks, but after holding a status of "questionable" in the days leading up to kick-off, Anderson was not able to suit up.
Despite missing six quarters of football, Anderson is still LSU's leading receiver with a team-high 305 receiving yards this season. Needless to say, his potential return on Saturday against Vanderbilt would be a welcome sight for Tiger fans.
Aaron Anderson injury update: WR listed as probable
As it stands, Anderson appears to be trending in the right direction to play on Saturday. He is officially listed as "probable" on the latest SEC availability report for Week 8. Getting Anderson back in the mix would do wonders for Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU passing game.
Trey'Dez Green stepped up in a big way in Anderson's absence against South Carolina. Green paced the team in catches (8) and receiving yards (119), and hauled in a 6-yard touchdown for his second score of the season. Green's massive 6'7" frame makes him a great red zone target for Nussmeier. Green and Anderson have complimentary skill sets, as Anderson is a more speedy and agile receiver who can make plays over the middle of the field. Anderson also has more catch-and-run ability.
Getting both Green and Anderson going would make the LSU passing attack more dynamic when going up against a Vanderbilt passing defense that has been susceptible through the air. The Commodores rank 12th in the SEC allowing 222.7 passing yards per game to their opponents. Alabama QB Ty Simpson had a great day against them in their latest outing, completing 23 of his 31 pass attempts for 340 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Prior to that, Vanderbilt allowed 35 points and 274 passing yards to Utah State.
Anderson and company have plenty of bulletin board material, as oddsmakers are favoring Vanderbilt over LSU for the first time since 1948. Furthermore, one Vandy defensive player is eyeing a big game for his defense. Kick-off between the Tigers and Commodores is set for 11:00 a.m. CT on Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.