NFL Tickets
It has been somewhat of an up-and-down start to the season for the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2014. The Gamecocks lost their opening game to the resurgent Texas A&M Aggies in blowout fashion and then followed that up with wins over a tough East Carolina squad and the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs at home. South Carolina is in good shape to contend for a conference title.
The Vanderbilt Commodores are just 1-2 to start the season which means they are still hurting from the loss of head coach James Franklin who led them to two straight 9-4 seasons in 2012 and 2013. Vanderbilt could be in danger of missing out on a bowl game for the first time since the 2010 season.
South Carolina had a sure thing in quarterback Connor Shaw for the last few seasons under center, but now it has to rely on the arm of unproven quarterback Dylan Thompson who has a little experience as the team’s starter. Thompson has been very solid this season, racking up 903 passing yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions while completing 61 percent of his passes. The senior quarterback needs to improve on his accuracy, but he is doing well in terms of yards per game. Nick Jones leads all receivers with 14 catches for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Shaq Roland and Pharoh Cooper are close behind with 12 catches for 143 yards and 11 catches for 130 yards, respectively. Mike Davis was a Heisman contender at the start of the season, but he hasn’t been helping his campaign, rushing for just 182 yards and two scores. Davis is second on the team in rushing behind Brandon Wilds.
Vanderbilt has been anything but impressive offensively this season, ranking 118th in passing yards per game, 111th in rushing yards per game and 121st in points per game. The offense has been quite lethargic with a new coaching staff in control and the quarterback situation is not ideal. Senior QB Stephen Rivers has shown absolutely no confidence, completing just 36 percent of his passes for 246 yards and two interceptions while Sophomore Patton Robinette has done far better, completing 70 percent of his passes for 185 yards and a touchdown. C.J. Duncan leads all receivers with 130 yards on six catches while Steven Scheu leads the team in receptions with nine for 98 yards and the team’s only receiving touchdown. Freshman running back Ralph Webb has certainly been a bright spot, rushing for 281 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Commodores have not been up to par in 2014. Vanderbilt ranks just 108th in the nation in points allowed per game with 36.3 and it’s closer to the bottom of the nation in yards allowed per contest with 414.7 per contest. South Carolina hasn’t been very impressive, either. The Gamecocks rank 109th in the country in points allowed and a lowly 120th in the nation in terms of yards allowed per game with 513.7. This game could get ugly for both sides on defense.
South Carolina will travel to Vanderbilt to take on the Commodores at 7:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, Sept. 20. The game will be broadcasted on the SEC Network.
PREDICTION: South Carolina 48, Vanderbilt 17
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. You can also reach him at [email protected].
Share 
