"No. 9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt
Thurs., 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Gamecocks surpassed all expectations last year, winning a school-record 11 games. What’s even more amazing is that they played nearly half the season with All-Everything tailback Marcus Lattimore on the sidelines.
With his recovery from knee surgery complete and Connor Shaw solidified at quarterback (if back spasms don’t get in the way), South Carolina is dreaming big.
Vanderbilt, however, doesn’t give a hoot about all this and there is some danger looming in Nashville as second-year head coach James Franklin has the Commodores feeling good about notching back-to-back bowl seasons.
Of course, good times in the opener will last only as long as quarterback Jordan Rodgers (Aaron’s little brother) remains upright while facing South Carolina’s skyscraper defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney (6-6) and Devin Taylor (6-8).
Remember how poorly the Gamecocks played in last season’s lid-lifter against East Carolina?
This will be tight.
Opening point spread: South Carolina by 8
The pick: South Carolina 24-23"
LINK: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports...-101-week-1-2/
Thurs., 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Gamecocks surpassed all expectations last year, winning a school-record 11 games. What’s even more amazing is that they played nearly half the season with All-Everything tailback Marcus Lattimore on the sidelines.
With his recovery from knee surgery complete and Connor Shaw solidified at quarterback (if back spasms don’t get in the way), South Carolina is dreaming big.
Vanderbilt, however, doesn’t give a hoot about all this and there is some danger looming in Nashville as second-year head coach James Franklin has the Commodores feeling good about notching back-to-back bowl seasons.
Of course, good times in the opener will last only as long as quarterback Jordan Rodgers (Aaron’s little brother) remains upright while facing South Carolina’s skyscraper defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney (6-6) and Devin Taylor (6-8).
Remember how poorly the Gamecocks played in last season’s lid-lifter against East Carolina?
This will be tight.
Opening point spread: South Carolina by 8
The pick: South Carolina 24-23"
LINK: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports...-101-week-1-2/
