COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Gamecocks are ranked No. 11 in the country. Vanderbilt is, dare I say, being doubted?
According to the experts, this should be a stroll for Shane Beamer’s crew. The polls say so, at least. But the folks in Las Vegas aren’t buying it. Oddsmakers have the line much tighter, and if you’ve watched either team through two weeks, you know why. This isn’t your grandfather’s Vandy. It might not even be your older brother’s Vandy. And South Carolina, despite the shiny number next to its name, has looked more like a team stuck living off last year’s hype than one ready to steamroll an SEC schedule, LaNorris Sellers or not.
The Case for the Commodores
Diego Pavia looks like a man who’s been around the block. The New Mexico State transfer quarterback has brought both moxie and efficiency to Vanderbilt’s offense. He’s got the poise of a guy who has already seen the worst—because he has. And now he’s slinging it around with weapons who can actually catch the ball. Clark Lea, meanwhile, has done something almost unthinkable: he’s built a locker room culture at Vanderbilt that doesn’t resemble a funeral home. The Commodores aren’t just showing up to collect their tuition checks. They’re playing like they expect to win.
The results speak loudly. Vanderbilt marched into Blacksburg and throttled Virginia Tech, 41–17. Yes, the same Hokies that South Carolina had to scratch and claw against in Atlanta just to escape with a win. That’s not nothing.
Gamecock Growing Pains
On the other side, South Carolina looks like it is still hungover from last season’s high of beating Clemson. Remember that game? The one that vaulted Beamer into every preseason hype video? Well, Clemson hasn’t beaten an SEC power since Urban Meyer was still fresh on the minds of Buckeye Nation. Beating Clemson is starting to feel more like a participation trophy than an actual accomplishment for power programs.
South Carolina’s defense? Let’s just say it’s no longer built by an NFL Draft factory. Half of last year’s defensive line is cashing pro paychecks, leaving Beamer with a unit that looks green and undersized. That’s not a recipe you want when Diego Pavia is throwing darts and Vanderbilt’s offensive line is bullying people up front.
Offense by Training Wheels
Sure, LaNorris Sellers has all the hype. Heisman whispers. Highlight reels. But so far, South Carolina’s offense looks like it only works when Sellers is freelancing with his legs or when Nyck Harbor runs faster than everyone else on the field. That’s great against overmatched opponents. But against an SEC team with confidence? That’s not sustainable. The Gamecocks need actual structure, not a “just let the athletes figure it out” offense.
Reality Check Incoming?
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday on SEC Network, under the lights at Williams-Brice. The home crowd will be loud, the fireworks will pop, and “Sandstorm” will rattle car stereos across the Midlands. But none of that will matter if Vanderbilt comes out swinging like it did for the second half in Blacksburg.
South Carolina has done nothing yet to prove it’s the same group that closed last season strong. Right now, the Gamecocks are more reputation than reality, more hype video than highlight reel. This matchup could be the rude awakening they need before October—the month national podcasters lovingly call “Cocktober”—when the real games start stacking up.
Final Thought
This isn’t to say Vanderbilt will march into Columbia and pull the upset. Odds are still stacked against them, being on the road, at night and all of the fixin’s of a Waffle House hash brown scramble. (Fun fact, South Carolina has the closest stadium to WaHo ratio in America)…
But don’t be shocked if South Carolina spends more of Saturday night sweating than strutting. Sometimes a gut check is exactly what a team needs. And right now, the Gamecocks look like a team due for one to fully reach their potential.
Sure, there was a pesky rain delay, which delayed kickoff of Cupcake Week against South Carolina State till way after 9 pm. A major kudos to the Gamecock faithful for sticking it out to perform Sandstorm.
The Cocks traveled in droves to Atlanta in Week 1 and waited out a pesky delay for the home opener. There is no doubt the crowd will be a major factor in this game, but it’s on Carolina to step up now.
Gut check time in Columbia. Are the Gamecocks a contender or a pretender? Proceed with caution…
Remember 2023? Yeah, so do we. The last time Carolina got hyped up by a win at Clemson, it fell on its ass. Something to monitor again here. This ain’t an even year in Columbia.
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