South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Vanderbilt Commodores Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview – September 20, 2014

The SEC championship race is heating up as the South Carolina Gamecocks felled fellow contenders Georgia on Saturday. They’ll have another chance to build up their standing in the SEC when they go against the Vanderbilt Commodores in Week 4 of the 2014 NCAA football season.

Do the Commodores have what it takes to record an upset over a championship contender? Or will the Gamecocks rack up the points in a blowout? Read on as we give you everything you need to know about this match.

Another SEC matchup is on the horizon as the Mississippi State Bulldogs and LSU Tigers go head-to-head in a pivotal SEC West game. You can read an in-depth preview of that game here.
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South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Vanderbilt Commodores Betting Preview

Where: Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

When: Saturday, September 20, 7:30 PM ET

Line: South Carolina Gamecocks (-22) at Vanderbilt Commodores (+22) – view all NCAA Football lines

Betting on the South Carolina Gamecocks

Back-to-back wins have brought the South Carolina Gamecocks back into SEC contention. After a humiliating home defeat in their season opener against Texas A&M, the Gamecocks rallied to defeat the East Carolina Pirates, 33-23, and the Georgia Bulldogs, 38-35. The Gamecocks are now 1-2 ATS in the current college football season.

Quarterback Dylan Thompson was impressive in the win against the Bulldogs, going 21 for 30 for 271 yards and three touchdowns. However, Thompson has to learn to be a little more careful with the football. He’s thrown an interception in each of his three games this season.

[sc:NCAA240banner ]Nevertheless, Thompson connected well with wide receiver Nick Jones (4 receptions for 87 yards) and tight end Rory Anderson (caught 5 for 67 yards and a score). After tearing apart Georgia’s pass defense for 271 yards, the Gamecocks will have a chance to throw for even more yardage against Vanderbilt.  Vandy’s pass defense was torched by Ole Miss for 367 yards, and has already conceded five passing touchdowns in its first three games.

South Carolina has an impending showdown with the Missouri Tigers next week. If the Gamecocks are able to establish an early lead against Vanderbilt, then they may choose to rest their starters. Still, the Gamecocks have backup receivers Damiere Byrd and K.J. Brent record touchdowns in their limited playing time. Even without their first-team offense, the Gamecocks have a squad that can exit Vanderbilt Stadium with a win.

South Carolina has won its last five games against Vanderbilt.

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Betting on the Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt was blown out by Temple and Ole Miss by a combined 68 points in their first two games before scraping past Massachusetts 34-31. The three games have left the Commodores 0-3 against the spread so far this season.

A big part of Vanderbilt’s struggles has been due to a muddled quarterback situation. They’ve started three different quarterbacks – Stephen Rivers, Patton Robinette and Wade Freebeck in their three games.

Robinette was the most solid of the three with a 70.4 percent completion rate, 6.9 yards per attempt and a score to show in his start. He should be the clear-cut starter for the Commodores, but he’ll have a stern challenge ahead of him in going up against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

While their passing defense is allowing 414.7 yards per game, one of the worst marks in the nation, the Commodores do have a couple of talented playmakers on offense to keep things interesting. Wide receiver C.J. Duncan has six receptions for 130 yards, while tight end Steven Scheu has caught nine balls for 98 yards and a touchdown.

On a good day, the Commodores can expose South Carolina’s sketchy secondary which failed to break up passes against East Carolina and Texas A&M. In the meantime, their defense can keep things close if junior linebacker Caleb Azubike (four sacks in three games) can be a disruptive force in their pass rush.

Vanderbilt are 1-3 ATS as home underdogs since the 2013 college football season.

Writer’s Prediction

After establishing a comfortable lead, the Gamecocks pull out most of their first team players. Expect Vanderbilt (+22) to fall behind early, but end up covering late.
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