South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Vanderbilt Commodores Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 11th 2023

South Carolina looks to continue its domination over Vanderbilt on Saturday when the Southeastern Conference teams meet in Columbia, S.C.

The visiting Commodores (2-8, 0-6 SEC) hope to stop two losing streaks: the 14-game drought against the Gamecocks (3-6, 1-5) in their annual rivalry, and this season’s current eight-game skid, the latest of which came last Saturday in a 31-15 loss to Auburn.

South Carolina snapped a four-game skid with a 38-28 home win over Jacksonville State. Spencer Rattler threw for 399 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to Xavier Legette, who accounted for 217 receiving yards on nine receptions.

The Gamecocks were penalized 10 times for 100 yards and surrendered 421 yards of offense (225 rushing) to JSU, while allowing 10 of 19 third-down conversions.

“There’s a lot to clean up and a lot to correct,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. “We were not good enough in a lot of areas.”

Rattler has carried the Gamecocks, surviving an early-season injury to preseason All-SEC wide receiver Juice Wells (who is expected to be out Saturday) and a lack of protection (37 sacks allowed) to throw for 2,516 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions, much of that going to Legette (50 catches, 973 yards, five scores).

South Carolina’s defense allows 433.6 yards and 31.1 points per game. Those would be league worsts if not for Vandy (435.5 yards and 33.9 points), which hasn’t stopped the run or pass.

Quarterback Ken Seals has helped settle down an offense that’s turned it over a league-worst 17 times. But Auburn sacked Seals five times last week and limited Vandy to 266 yards of total offense.

“I felt like Ken didn’t have time,” Commodores coach Clark Lea said Tuesday. “It’s frustrating because when you have an open route down the field and you need your quarterback to work through a progression, there has to be an understanding for the five guys up front plus the running back of how we’re going to pick it up.”

Vanderbilt’s last victory against South Carolina came in 2008 with a 24-17 decision in Nashville.

–Field Level Media