South Carolina at Vanderbilt (Against the Spread)

This year, I'll try to handicap every game for the South Carolina Gamecocks against the spread. As a disclaimer, this is for entertainment purposes only. Sports betting is generally illegal, so this is a mental exercise. DO NOT RELY ON THIS FOR BETTING MONEY.

Ok, having said that...my thoughts and pick against the spread are below the jump.

South Carolina Gamecocks at Vanderbilt Commodores

Date: 8/30/12

Time: 7:00PM Eastern Time

Television: ESPN

Point Spread: South Carolina -7

South Carolina opens the 2012 season with high hopes, and they jump straight into conference play with a season opener on the road at Vanderbilt. The Commodores had a solid season in 2011, and were a few unlucky breaks away from beating Georgia and Arkansas last year. This isn't the Vanderbilt of ten years ago. The Commodores can play ball, and you should expect to see a steady dose of their main running back Zac Stacy.

I look for Vanderbilt to establish the run early, which has been a little bit of a weak spot for the Gamecocks defense over the last few years. Additionally, the South Carolina secondary will be very thin with the loss of Akeem Auguste. If Vanderbilt gets into second and short distance (less than 5) it will allow them to open up their playbook and get creative. If the Gamecock defense can put Vanderbilt in to third and long, then the defensive ends of Clowney and Taylor can go to work. In short yardage, their presence can be neutralized.

I'm looking for Lattimore to come out and show that he's back from his ACL injury early. If the Gamecocks can make Vanderbilt respect the run game, look for Spurrier to go play-action and start taking shots down the field. Ultimately, the Gamecocks have more talent overall, and they should wear down a Vanderbilt team that will come out fired up. Vanderbilt Coach James Franklin has really built this game up and Vandy will be looking to feed off emotion to stay with the talented Gamecocks. If South Carolina can weather the storm for the first quarter, the talent will rise to the top. If USC can get the zone-read offense going early with Lattimore, that should take some air out of the crowd. I'm really starting to love the soul-crushing Lattimore-based drives that are methodical and consume clock.

Pick: Ultimately, I think South Carolina will take care of the ball. Unless there are serious miscues (blocked punt, stupid turnovers, etc.) South Carolina's defense will shut down the Commodores, and the South Carolina offense will be balanced enough to keep Vanderbilt from shading one direction too much. South Carolina will cover the spread.

I see Lattimore getting a TD (or two), Shaw throwing for a couple (watch TE Jerell Adams), and the South Carolina defense not allowing more than two Vanderbilt TDs.

South Carolina 35

Vanderbilt        17