South Carolina football vs Vanderbilt scouting report, score prediction for SEC Week 11
COLUMBIA — South Carolina football finally ended its losing streak with a nail-biter victory over Jacksonville State last week, and the Gamecocks now look to add their first SEC win since Week 4 when it hosts Vanderbilt on Saturday (noon, SEC Network).
South Carolina (3-6, 1-5 SEC) hosts the Commodores (2-8, 0-6) at Williams-Brice Stadium, aiming for its 15th consecutive win in the SEC East series. Vanderbilt last beat the Gamecocks 24-17 in 2008, and South Carolina leads the all-time series 28-4.
Though it has been 16 years since Vanderbilt's last win in Columbia, the Commodores gave the Gamecocks a scare in coach Shane Beamer's first season in 2021. South Carolina won by one point, the closest margin of victory in the series since 1999. The Gamecocks won more comfortably, 38-27, in 2022.
More: Watch South Carolina football vs. Vanderbilt live on Fubo (free trial)
Here's everything you need to know about the Commodores entering the Week 11 game, including our score prediction:
Vanderbilt's bizarre quarterback situation
Junior AJ Swann returned after starting six games in 2022, but the Commodores are still rotating between multiple quarterbacks like they did with Swann and Mike Wright last season. Swann started the first five games of this season and was benched after an injury against Kentucky on Sept. 23. He has not appeared since.
Senior Ken Seals played in eight of ten games and has started since Swann was benched. Seals is averaging 127.3 yards per game, a figure dragged down by his 22-yard performance against Ole Miss in Week 8. He struggles with accuracy, with a 60% completion rate with four interceptions.
Sophomore Walter Taylor is also seeing increased reps after he stepped in for Seals at Ole Miss. Though he completed just 4-of-12 passes in that game, Taylor rushed for 59 yards and scored the Commodores' lone touchdown.
Commodores defense thrives on turnovers
Vanderbilt leads the SEC in interceptions with 11 in 10 games, and the Commodores have also recovered three fumbles. Safety De'Rickey Wright and linebacker CJ Taylor have two picks and two forced fumbles apiece. However, Vanderbilt's offense struggles to capitalize and has its own turnover issues with 17 given up.
The Commodores allow an average of nearly 34 points per game, which bodes well for a South Carolina offense that has scored 35-plus points against every unranked team it has faced. It's no secret that the Gamecocks' offensive line is among the weakest in the league, but Vanderbilt's defensive front allows 180 rushing yards per game and ranks in the bottom half of the conference in sacks.
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Where South Carolina's injury situation stands
The Gamecocks have been decimated by injuries on offense since the start of the season, and the skill positions were hit hard during the Jacksonville State game. Multi-purpose running back Dakereon Joyner will be out against Vanderbilt, and star tight end Trey Knox is questionable after missing Week 10 with a hamstring injury. Top wide receiver Xavier Legette also remains banged up after sustaining minor injuries at both Missouri and Texas A&M.
Starting left guard Trai Jones will also be out against the Commodores with an ankle injury suffered against Texas A&M. However the offensive line is trending in a better direction finally: Cason Henry returned last week for the first time after he was hurt on the opening drive in Week 1, as did starting right tackle Vershon Lee after a knee injury against Florida.
South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt score prediction
South Carolina 34, Vanderbilt 24: The Gamecocks haven't lost to Vanderbilt in more than a decade, and they won't let that streak end with the season on the line. The Commodores score more points than they should but can't keep pace with Spencer Rattler's production.
Follow South Carolina football beat reporter Emily Adams on X @eaadams6 and subscribe to The Greenville News for exclusive Gamecocks content: https://subscribe.greenvilleonline.com/offers.
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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina score prediction vs Vanderbilt: SEC football Week 11
