First look at USC-Vanderbilt: Gamecocks are betting favorites this week in Nashville

South Carolina’s football team just scored one of the biggest wins of the Shane Beamer era by racing past No. 10 Texas A&M. Now the Gamecocks turn their attention to one of the best upstart stories in the sport.

Vanderbilt announced itself this season with an upset of then-No. 1 Alabama and have already locked in a bowl trip with three games to go. The No. 24 Commodores are feisty and a challenge to anyone who they face.

SOUTH CAROLINA VS. VANDERBILT GAME, TV INFO

Who: South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 SEC) vs. No. 24 Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC)

Where: FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.

When: 4:15 p.m. Saturday

TV: SEC Network

POINT SPREAD

The Gamecocks opened as 1.5-point favorites, according to VegasInsider, and that line has already moved up to USC by 3.5 points. The over-under for points scored in the game is 46.

LAST MEETING, TRENDS

The Gamecocks crushed Vanderbilt 46-7 in Columbia last season. South Carolina has won the last 15 meetings, dating back to 2008, and leads the overall series 29-4

STATE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

South Carolina is riding high following upset wins at Oklahoma and against Texas A&M at home. In a season when the schedule was projected to be brutal, Shane Beamer’s squad has been in all but one game and handed blowout losses to several high-profile programs.

The offense under Dowell Loggains showed considerable life against a talented Aggies defense. The run game came to life and a range of nifty adjustments paid off with more than 7.5 yards gained per play. A key to that was quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who kept dodging a powerful pass rush and creating key improvised plays.

With the past two wins, the Gamecocks’ schedule is suddenly opening up. Vanderbilt is tough but beatable. Missouri is faltering and Clemson just had a bad time at home in a loss to Louisville. College football is crazy every week, but every FBS opponent left on the slate suddenly looks vulnerable.

STATE OF THE VANDERBILT COMMODORES

Vanderbilt is living a charmed year, having reached six-regular season wins for the first time since 2018. A new offense has made them efficient and threatening, with a hard-nosed identity that they’ve put into practice. It’s already paid off with wins against Alabama, Virginia Tech, Kentucky and Auburn.

The key to that resurgence has been quarterback Diego Pavia. The former wrestler is a fearless runner and sets a tone for how Vandy operates. He always seems to be in a spot to cause defenses problems and can sling it a bit too.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers: It seems like the bye week was just what the Gamecocks’ redshirt freshman starter needed. Against A&M, he was a wizard dodging pressure and running or finding receivers. He did a better job taking shorter routes and rushed for more than 100 yards, seeming in excellent command of the offense. For the year, he has 1,212 passing yards, with seven scores and four picks. He’s also run for 353 yards with four touchdowns.

South Carolina running back Rocket Sanders: His last outing showed as proof. When Sanders is going, busting through tackles and effectively bouncing outside into space, he absolutely makes the Gamecocks offense go. After more than 140 yards against the Aggies, he has 570 on the year with eight touchdowns.

South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight: The Charlotte transfer has been a revelation, racing all over the field to deliver hits and make plays. He projects as a key part of trying to control Pavia, who can destroy a defense with his running and scrambling. For the season, he’s posted 47 tackles, six for loss, with two sacks and two forced fumbles.

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia: The undersized-but-powerfully built passer has just been terrorizing defenses all season. He carries the ball on designed runs, scrambles and has a good feel for coordinator Tim Beck’s scheme after both came from New Mexico State. For the season, he has 1,677 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, three picks and 563 yards on the ground.

Vanderbilt nickel Randon Fontenette: A hybrid safety linebacker, Fontenette is a key to the Commodore defense and versatile playmaker. He can play in coverage, set the edge or just chase down runners. He has 47 tackles, seven for loss, 2.5 sacks and seven pass break-ups for the year.