GCF South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt Game Preview, Prediction & Discussion Thread
Oct. 13, 2021
HOW TO WATCH SOUTH CAROLINA VS VANDERBILT FOOTBALL GAME
Who: South Carolina Gamecocks (3-3, 0-3 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (2-4, 0-2 SEC)
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday TV: SEC Network
The Gamecocks fell 45-20 to Tennessee last Saturday. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, continues to struggle in the basement of the SEC. Commodores are last in total offense, last in scoring offense, next to last in total defense, last in pass efficiency, next to last in rush defense. Vandy was shut out by two conference opponents, Georgia and Florida, and has eked out wins over Mountain West Colorado State and now 0-7 UConn.
South Carolina carries a 12-game winning streak into this week’s homecoming matchup against the Commodores and has won 26 of the matchup’s 30 all-time meetings. The Gamecocks came up with a 41-7 victory over Vanderbilt last year in Nashville, one of their two wins in 2020. Saturday’s afternoon kick coincides with the the first weekend of the S.C. State Fair.
Vanderbilt's offense is not consistent, and it’s not explosive, but Vanderbilt’s offense is improving.
It couldn’t do anything against Georgia and Florida, but they aren’t part of this program’s measuring stick at the moment. They were able to run on Stanford, and the passing game got in its reps in the win over UConn – that matters to have some success, even against the downtrodden.
The ground game might not be doing much, but the offensive line hasn’t been too bad, the defense has been okay on third downs – at least when it’s not dealing with the elite and South Carolina isn’t going to walk through the tunnel and start rolling.
The Gamecock D is horrendous on third downs, the passing game isn’t anything great, and turnovers are a problem. It’s not consistent, and it’s not explosive, but Vanderbilt’s offense is improving.
It couldn’t do anything against Georgia and Florida, but they aren’t part of this program’s measuring stick at the moment. They were able to run on Stanford, and the passing game got in its reps in the win over UConn – that matters to have some success, even against the downtrodden.
The ground game might not be doing much, but the offensive line hasn’t been too bad, the defense has been okay on third downs – at least when it’s not dealing with the elite – and South Carolina isn’t going to walk through the tunnel and start rolling. The Gamecock D is horrendous on third downs, the passing game isn’t anything great, and turnovers are a problem but Gamecocks running game will show life and should win here easily.
GAMECOCK PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Kevin Harris: Entering Saturday, the Gamecocks hadn’t run for more than 100 yards since the season opener against FCS foe Eastern Illinois. But against the Volunteers, running back RB looked closer to the form that helped him lead the SEC in rushing a season ago. Harris wasn’t perfect — his 16 carries for 61 yards left something to be wanted. That said, the Georgia native found the end zone twice and dodged tacklers with the strength and speed onlookers grew accustomed to a season ago. South Carolina finished the afternoon with 153 rush yards the most any opponent other than No. 20 Florida has accumulated on Tennessee this season. It’s only one game, so it’s not quite worth overreacting to, but Harris and USC’s running game clearly looked closer to the part on Saturday.
QB Luke Doty: Continues to look like the long-term answer under center despite a handful of bobbled snaps and an interception on a two-point conversion try that he attempted to toss out of the end zone. 69 of 119 for 733 yards, three touchdowns and one interception but they’ve been good enough to keep South Carolina in games (think Kentucky three weeks ago).
WR Josh Vann: The most productive offensive player, though, Josh Vann. For the year, Vann leads the team in yards from scrimmage with 394, including three carries for 62 yards and 16 catches for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Vann has lost a fumble, but he’s still an elite target.
VANDY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Will Sheppard, WR: Sheppard is the SEC’s 11th-best receiver through six games, splitting receptions with teammates Chris Pierce, Devin Boddie and Cam Johnson. Sheppard has totaled 333 yards on 31 catches with two touchdowns, averaging 10.7 yards per catch. The 6-foot-3 sophomore’s best game included a 38-yard touchdown reception in Vanderbilt’s 30-28 win over UConn on Oct. 2.
Dashaun Jerkins, S: Jerkins intercepted Florida quarterback Emory Jones at the Gators’ 30-yard line last Saturday and has created turnovers throughout his time with Vanderbilt. Last season, the Commodores’ safety forced two fumbles and recovered one, finishing 2020 tied for fifth in the SEC in forced fumbles per game. Ken Seals, QB: Seals is in his second year at the helm of Vandy’s offense and has passed for 1,086 yards through the Commodores’ first six games. In his best game of 2021 against UConn, Seals completed 27 of his 40 passes for 333 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He went 22-of-43 passing for 192 yards with two interceptions against Florida.
THIS WEEK’S BETTING ODDS
South Carolina opened as a 16-point favorite against the Commodores, but the line shifted to favoring the Gamecocks by as many as 20 points in other sportsbooks. The VegasInsider consensus Gamecocks as of now by 18.
GCF PREDICTION
South Carolina 26, Vanderbilt 10
Oct. 13, 2021
HOW TO WATCH SOUTH CAROLINA VS VANDERBILT FOOTBALL GAME
Who: South Carolina Gamecocks (3-3, 0-3 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (2-4, 0-2 SEC)
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
When: 4 p.m. Saturday TV: SEC Network
The Gamecocks fell 45-20 to Tennessee last Saturday. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, continues to struggle in the basement of the SEC. Commodores are last in total offense, last in scoring offense, next to last in total defense, last in pass efficiency, next to last in rush defense. Vandy was shut out by two conference opponents, Georgia and Florida, and has eked out wins over Mountain West Colorado State and now 0-7 UConn.
South Carolina carries a 12-game winning streak into this week’s homecoming matchup against the Commodores and has won 26 of the matchup’s 30 all-time meetings. The Gamecocks came up with a 41-7 victory over Vanderbilt last year in Nashville, one of their two wins in 2020. Saturday’s afternoon kick coincides with the the first weekend of the S.C. State Fair.
Vanderbilt's offense is not consistent, and it’s not explosive, but Vanderbilt’s offense is improving.
It couldn’t do anything against Georgia and Florida, but they aren’t part of this program’s measuring stick at the moment. They were able to run on Stanford, and the passing game got in its reps in the win over UConn – that matters to have some success, even against the downtrodden.
The ground game might not be doing much, but the offensive line hasn’t been too bad, the defense has been okay on third downs – at least when it’s not dealing with the elite and South Carolina isn’t going to walk through the tunnel and start rolling.
The Gamecock D is horrendous on third downs, the passing game isn’t anything great, and turnovers are a problem. It’s not consistent, and it’s not explosive, but Vanderbilt’s offense is improving.
It couldn’t do anything against Georgia and Florida, but they aren’t part of this program’s measuring stick at the moment. They were able to run on Stanford, and the passing game got in its reps in the win over UConn – that matters to have some success, even against the downtrodden.
The ground game might not be doing much, but the offensive line hasn’t been too bad, the defense has been okay on third downs – at least when it’s not dealing with the elite – and South Carolina isn’t going to walk through the tunnel and start rolling. The Gamecock D is horrendous on third downs, the passing game isn’t anything great, and turnovers are a problem but Gamecocks running game will show life and should win here easily.
GAMECOCK PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Kevin Harris: Entering Saturday, the Gamecocks hadn’t run for more than 100 yards since the season opener against FCS foe Eastern Illinois. But against the Volunteers, running back RB looked closer to the form that helped him lead the SEC in rushing a season ago. Harris wasn’t perfect — his 16 carries for 61 yards left something to be wanted. That said, the Georgia native found the end zone twice and dodged tacklers with the strength and speed onlookers grew accustomed to a season ago. South Carolina finished the afternoon with 153 rush yards the most any opponent other than No. 20 Florida has accumulated on Tennessee this season. It’s only one game, so it’s not quite worth overreacting to, but Harris and USC’s running game clearly looked closer to the part on Saturday.
QB Luke Doty: Continues to look like the long-term answer under center despite a handful of bobbled snaps and an interception on a two-point conversion try that he attempted to toss out of the end zone. 69 of 119 for 733 yards, three touchdowns and one interception but they’ve been good enough to keep South Carolina in games (think Kentucky three weeks ago).
WR Josh Vann: The most productive offensive player, though, Josh Vann. For the year, Vann leads the team in yards from scrimmage with 394, including three carries for 62 yards and 16 catches for 332 yards and three touchdowns. Vann has lost a fumble, but he’s still an elite target.
VANDY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Will Sheppard, WR: Sheppard is the SEC’s 11th-best receiver through six games, splitting receptions with teammates Chris Pierce, Devin Boddie and Cam Johnson. Sheppard has totaled 333 yards on 31 catches with two touchdowns, averaging 10.7 yards per catch. The 6-foot-3 sophomore’s best game included a 38-yard touchdown reception in Vanderbilt’s 30-28 win over UConn on Oct. 2.
Dashaun Jerkins, S: Jerkins intercepted Florida quarterback Emory Jones at the Gators’ 30-yard line last Saturday and has created turnovers throughout his time with Vanderbilt. Last season, the Commodores’ safety forced two fumbles and recovered one, finishing 2020 tied for fifth in the SEC in forced fumbles per game. Ken Seals, QB: Seals is in his second year at the helm of Vandy’s offense and has passed for 1,086 yards through the Commodores’ first six games. In his best game of 2021 against UConn, Seals completed 27 of his 40 passes for 333 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He went 22-of-43 passing for 192 yards with two interceptions against Florida.
THIS WEEK’S BETTING ODDS
South Carolina opened as a 16-point favorite against the Commodores, but the line shifted to favoring the Gamecocks by as many as 20 points in other sportsbooks. The VegasInsider consensus Gamecocks as of now by 18.
GCF PREDICTION
South Carolina 26, Vanderbilt 10
