Sports

#FITSPick: South Carolina 44 Vandy 29

The University of South Carolina football team has a big, bruising offensive line and a pair of tough, talented tailbacks running behind it. Head coach Steve Spurrier’s squad also has a solid wide receiver corps, three of the best tight ends in America and two game-tested starting quarterbacks in Connor…

The University of South Carolina football team has a big, bruising offensive line and a pair of tough, talented tailbacks running behind it. Head coach Steve Spurrier’s squad also has a solid wide receiver corps, three of the best tight ends in America and two game-tested starting quarterbacks in Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson.

So offense is not a problem for the No. 13/14 Gamecocks (1-1, 0-1 SEC) … assuming the right plays are called (you know … like if you’ve got the ball fourth-and-one on the Georgia goal line).

A big problem? Defense. South Carolina was shredded between the hedges in Athens, Georgia last week by SEC East rival Georgia – which put up 41 points and 538 yards against coordinator Lorenzo Ward’s crew. Preseason Heisman Trophy frontrunner Jadeveon Clowney? With the exception of one big sack he simply wasn’t a factor – as Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo ran his stud running back Todd Gurley away from the All-American all afternoon.

The result? Some frustrated coaches …

Vanderbilt (1-1, 0-1 SEC) heads into Williams-Brice Stadium this weekend coming off of its best season in 98 years – looking to upset a Gamecock squad it hasn’t beaten since winning back-to-back games in 2007-08.

Second-year head coach James Franklin‘s team put up 35 points and 426 yards against No. 25 Ole Miss two weeks ago – with first year starter Austyn Carta-Samuels (a transfer from Wyoming) throwing for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns. A trio of Vandy running backs also gobbled up 119 yards on the ground.

The bad news? Carta-Samuels threw a pair of picks and Vandy’s defense coughed up 489 yards and 39 points to the Rebels – who escaped with a narrow win on the road in Nashville.

South Carolina has been installed as 13.5 point favorites in this game – and we’re projecting they clear that threshold with a few points to spare. In fact assuming the Gamecock defense wakes up, this game could be a rout. But as we noted earlier this week,  South Carolina struggled on the road last year against the Commodores – eking out a 17-13 victory in Nashville on a fourth quarter touchdown run from former running back Marcus Lattimore.

So anything can happen.

After a remarkably successful 2012 season (and a decent start to 2013), FITS has missed its last two picks badly (here and here).

Hopefully this is the week we get back on track …

OTHER PICKS

No. 6 TEXAS A&M 33 No. 1 Alabama 27

No. 2 OREGON 49 Tennessee 21

No. 7 Louisville 45 KENTUCKY 20

TEXAS 31 No. 25 Ole Miss 30

Pic: Travis Bell Photography

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8 comments

shifty henry September 14, 2013 at 11:56 am

The Magik Round Dice whispered —–
South Carolina ——— 45
Vanderbilt ————— 26

Reply
TontoBubbaGoldstein September 14, 2013 at 12:33 pm

TBG can see this game going either way… but will pick Sakerlina in a blowout. 47 – 17.

TBG is already scarfing down tums and hoarding Valium in anticipation of Thursday night’s game…

Reply
TontoBubbaGoldstein September 14, 2013 at 12:36 pm

TBG – while hoping to be wrong– sees the Tide rolling over the Aggies by at least 2 TDs!

Reply
Jim September 14, 2013 at 1:25 pm

‘shredded between the hedges’

good

Reply
Comrade1917 September 14, 2013 at 3:22 pm

Vandie loss.

Reply
Smirks September 14, 2013 at 3:28 pm

USC 34, Vandy 24

Reply
Smirks September 15, 2013 at 8:05 am

Aww yis! T’was 35-25!

Reply
Jeffy01 September 15, 2013 at 12:17 pm

35-25. Easy to pick this one

Reply

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