Early look South Carolina vs Vanderbilt football game
Oct. 11, 2021
The Gamecocks fell 45-20 to Tennessee last Saturday. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, continues to struggle in the basement of the SEC. What the Gamecocks will see in Vanderbilt...In 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.
EARLY LOOK GAMECOCKS
South Carolina still needs to sort out its struggles on offense. The Vanderbilt game may be its best chance to get things going before the slate intensifies with Texas A&M, Florida, Missouri, Auburn and Clemson closing out 2021. Vanderbilt is at 14th of 14 SEC programs in terms of total offense, averaging 310.7 yards and 13.3 points per game, but South Carolina is barely ahead, at 13th in the conference with 335.3 yards and 22 points per game. Take away the 46-0 Week 1 game against now 1-5 FCS opponent Eastern Illinois, and the Gamecocks have mustered just 17.2 points per game. South Carolina had opportunities to score and could’ve kept last week’s Tennessee game within their reach if they had executed a first-quarter goal-line trick play. Instead, it ended with defensive lineman Jordan Burch throwing an interception and a 14-0 deficit quickly turned into 28-0 after a quick Volunteer touchdown drive and a fumbled snap in USC’s next possession. South Carolina improved in the second half of last week’s game but still has plenty of room to grow in terms of consistency and offensive identity. The good news is that Vanderbilt has a laundry list of its own problems, giving the Gamecocks a great chance to sort things out.
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.
EARLY LOOK VANDERBILT COMMODORES
First-year Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea inherited a program with few if any expectations, but Vanderbilt hasn’t shown much proficiency in any phase of competition, especially in conference play. The Commodores have yet to score a single point against an SEC team in 2021. Granted, their first meetings were with top-ranked Georgia and on the road at Florida. Combined, they were outscored 104-0 and outgained 1,011-364 in total offense regardless. Vanderbilt’s 62-0 loss to Georgia was the fifth-worst margin in the football program’s history and the loss to Florida included three missed field goal attempts from 39, 41 and 33 yards. Silver linings aren’t necessarily easy to come by for Vanderbilt. But if there’s anything, it’s that the most recent trip to Florida on Oct. 9 showed a glimmer of hope. The Commodores pressured Gator quarterbacks Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson fairly well, totaling six quarterback hits, and came up with two interceptions. Vanderbilt’s offense, meanwhile, drove all the way to Florida’s 1-yard line before halftime. Vandy’s best touchdown opportunity fizzled out when receiver Chris Pierce lost possession of an end zone reception as he hit the ground on fourth-and-goal. Initially ruled a touchdown, the touchdown was overturned after review.
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.
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
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 was up to USC by 20 Sunday evening but Monday dip to 18.
Oct. 11, 2021
The Gamecocks fell 45-20 to Tennessee last Saturday. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, continues to struggle in the basement of the SEC. What the Gamecocks will see in Vanderbilt...In 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.
EARLY LOOK GAMECOCKS
South Carolina still needs to sort out its struggles on offense. The Vanderbilt game may be its best chance to get things going before the slate intensifies with Texas A&M, Florida, Missouri, Auburn and Clemson closing out 2021. Vanderbilt is at 14th of 14 SEC programs in terms of total offense, averaging 310.7 yards and 13.3 points per game, but South Carolina is barely ahead, at 13th in the conference with 335.3 yards and 22 points per game. Take away the 46-0 Week 1 game against now 1-5 FCS opponent Eastern Illinois, and the Gamecocks have mustered just 17.2 points per game. South Carolina had opportunities to score and could’ve kept last week’s Tennessee game within their reach if they had executed a first-quarter goal-line trick play. Instead, it ended with defensive lineman Jordan Burch throwing an interception and a 14-0 deficit quickly turned into 28-0 after a quick Volunteer touchdown drive and a fumbled snap in USC’s next possession. South Carolina improved in the second half of last week’s game but still has plenty of room to grow in terms of consistency and offensive identity. The good news is that Vanderbilt has a laundry list of its own problems, giving the Gamecocks a great chance to sort things out.
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.
EARLY LOOK VANDERBILT COMMODORES
First-year Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea inherited a program with few if any expectations, but Vanderbilt hasn’t shown much proficiency in any phase of competition, especially in conference play. The Commodores have yet to score a single point against an SEC team in 2021. Granted, their first meetings were with top-ranked Georgia and on the road at Florida. Combined, they were outscored 104-0 and outgained 1,011-364 in total offense regardless. Vanderbilt’s 62-0 loss to Georgia was the fifth-worst margin in the football program’s history and the loss to Florida included three missed field goal attempts from 39, 41 and 33 yards. Silver linings aren’t necessarily easy to come by for Vanderbilt. But if there’s anything, it’s that the most recent trip to Florida on Oct. 9 showed a glimmer of hope. The Commodores pressured Gator quarterbacks Emory Jones and Anthony Richardson fairly well, totaling six quarterback hits, and came up with two interceptions. Vanderbilt’s offense, meanwhile, drove all the way to Florida’s 1-yard line before halftime. Vandy’s best touchdown opportunity fizzled out when receiver Chris Pierce lost possession of an end zone reception as he hit the ground on fourth-and-goal. Initially ruled a touchdown, the touchdown was overturned after review.
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.
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
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 was up to USC by 20 Sunday evening but Monday dip to 18.
