NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ Tyler Watts threw for 176 yards and ran for a touchdown, and No. 12 Alabama used a suffocating defense to beat Vanderbilt 30-8 Saturday for its 18th straight victory in this series.

Alabama (7-2, 4-1 Southeastern Conference), which a week earlier got its 750th victory, assured Vanderbilt (2-7, 0-5) of its 20th consecutive losing season.

The Crimson Tide, the SEC's best team at playing keepaway, held the ball for more than 36 minutes and rolled up 428 yards of offense. The nation's fourth-stingiest defense held Vanderbilt to a season-low 162 yards and forced two turnovers.

Alabama improved to 41-2 against Vanderbilt since 1961 and has not lost to the Commodores in Nashville since 1969.

Watts gave Alabama all the momentum on the opening drive. He completed all five of his passes for 48 yards and capped an 11-play, 77-yard drive by running up the middle for 9 yards and a 7-0 lead.

Alabama sputtered occasionally on offense, going three-and-out twice in the first half. The Tide, which led 13-0 at halftime, also had to settle for field goals of 36, 22 and 42 yards by Kyle Robinson.

It was more than enough against Vanderbilt, which lost its 14th straight SEC game.

Brodie Croyle added a 41-yard TD pass to Dre Fulghum in the fourth quarter.

Watts was 15 of 21 passing, and ran 14 times for 55 yards. Croyle completed five of nine passes for 94 yards

The Commodores came into the game with the nation's 25th-best rushing offense, averaging 205.5 yards. They managed only 46 yards of total offense in the first half and just 46 yards rushing for the game.

Vanderbilt's decision to defer to the second half after winning the coin toss sums up the program's luck. The Commodores went three-and-out on their first drive in the third quarter, then Greg Johnson, the nation's fifth-best punter, shanked a 29-yarder.

Alabama got the ball at its own 40 and methodically went 54 yards in 12 plays before Shaud Williams scored on a 9-yard run for a 20-0 lead midway through the third period.

Vanderbilt avoided the shutout late when Jay Cutler found Dan Stricker in the end zone for a 10-yard TD pass.

The victory was Alabama's fourth straight on the road in the SEC, something the Tide hadn't done since 1999.