South Carolina seeking bowl, Vanderbilt wants first SEC win this season
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Vanderbilt (2-8, 0-6 SEC) at South Carolina (3-6, 1-5), Saturday, noon (SEC Network)
Line: South Carolina by 13 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: South Carolina leads 28-4
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
South Carolina is fighting for its postseason life while Vanderbilt wants to avoid going winless in the Southeastern Conference. The Gamecocks have to win out if they hope to make third-year coach Shane Beamer 3-for-3 in reaching a bowl at the start of his South Carolina career. The Commodores are trying to avoid a second 0-for-the-SEC in coach Clark Lea's three years.
KEY MATCHUP
South Carolina WR Xavier Legette vs. Vanderbilt pass defense. Legette is second in the SEC with 108 receiving yards a game and second in total yards with 973. He had nine catches for 217 yards and two TDs in a 38-28 win over Jacksonville State last week. Vanderbilt is next-to-last in SEC pass defense and has given up 19 passing TDs, the most in the league.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Vanderbilt: Linebacker Langston Patterson had a sack, a forced fumble and an interception in a loss to Ole Miss two weeks ago.
South Carolina: QB Spencer Rattler has kept grinding even when things haven't gone well for the Gamecocks. He leads the SEC with 304 pass attempts and keeps throwing despite shoddy protection as South Carolina is tied for last with 37 sacks allowed.
FACTS & FIGURES
South Carolina holds a 14-game win streak over Vanderbilt. The Commodores' last win in the series came in 2007, when the school ended an 0-14 mark against then-Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier. ... Vanderbilt has at least two wins over every other SEC East team since its last victory against South Carolina. ... Commodores receiver Will Sheppard had four catches for 43 yards in the Auburn loss last week and became the eighth at Vanderbilt to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards. ... The Commodores will have their fifth straight season of two or fewer SEC victories. They are 3-36 in SEC play during that span. ... The Gamecocks are looking for back-to-back victories for the first time since defeating Tennessee and Clemson in November 2022.
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