South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3, 3-3 SEC) will face off against No. 24 Vanderbilt Commodores (6-3, 3-2) this Saturday at 4:15 p.m. EST, which will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
BetMGM has set the odds with South Carolina favored by 3.5 points.
The historical record shows South Carolina leading the series 29-4.
What’s on the line? Vanderbilt is experiencing a resurgence, returning to the Top 25 after a significant road victory against Auburn, which has secured them bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2018 season. The Commodores are aiming higher as they find themselves in a competitive position within the Southeastern Conference. On the other hand, South Carolina is also seeking bowl eligibility with a win in this matchup, coming off two consecutive victories that include a surprising win over then-No. 10 Texas A&M.
A key aspect to look for in this game is South Carolina’s defensive strategy against Vanderbilt’s offense, which leads the SEC in time of possession, averaging 32 minutes and 25 seconds per game. The Commodores have a strong tendency to score first; they have managed to do so in seven out of their nine games this season, achieving victory in five of those instances. Notably, they have won consecutive games against powerhouse teams Alabama and Kentucky without ever falling behind.
When it comes to standout players, South Carolina’s quarterback, LaNorris Sellers, is one to keep an eye on. He delivered a stellar performance against Texas A&M, throwing for a personal-best 244 yards and two touchdowns, along with rushing for 106 yards and another touchdown, culminating in an impressive total of 350 yards of offense.
Vanderbilt’s offense is led by quarterback Diego Pavia, who provides a confident spark for the team. With 15 touchdown passes this season, Pavia ranks fourth in the SEC and has contributed to the team’s impressive total of 118 points, also placing them fourth in the conference and 36th nationally. His passing efficiency of 151.9 is third-best in the SEC, and he leads all quarterbacks in the conference with 563 rushing yards.
In terms of statistics and context, South Carolina has dominated the recent series, winning 15 consecutive games against Vanderbilt and 22 out of the last 24 encounters. This gives them an impressive 87.9% winning rate against Vanderbilt, which represents their highest success rate among Division I FBS opponents. Historically, Vanderbilt has struggled to score, surpassing 17 points only eight times in their last 33 contests against South Carolina. South Carolina is aiming for its third SEC road victory of the season, having already achieved wins against Kentucky and Oklahoma; they haven’t accomplished three SEC road wins in a single season since 2011. Additionally, the Gamecocks hold a record of 1-3 against ranked teams this season and stand at 4-12 since 2021 in matchups against Top 25 teams. Vanderbilt, on the flip side, has shown resilience, as their three losses this season have been by a narrow margin of only 10 points, including two against teams that were ranked in the Top 7 at the time they faced them.