Vanderbilt Three Keys: South Carolina

The Vanderbilt Commodores host South Carolina on Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium. Here are your three keys to a Commodore victory over the Gamecocks. 

By Don Yates

Get back to clean football

Not talking about anything Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly may have said. Talking about turnovers – getting them and not giving them. Last week in South Bend Vanderbilt lost a football game because of turnovers. Vandy desperately wanted to beat Notre Dame giving but 110 percent may have caused a turnover or two. This week the Commodores wants desperately to start 1-0 in the SEC. It’s okay to give 110 percent but don’t get reckless.

Pressure Jake Bentley

Jake Bentley is a big, strong QB for the Gamecocks. Last year Vandy held him 174 yards and a TD pass. USC’s rushing game is not stellar. They will need to go to the air to win this game. If Vandy can put pressure on Bentley and force incompletions and ideally an interception or two they have shot to win this game. Last year trying to get pressure on Bentley Vandy was hit with a costly targeting call. Give Bentley credit, though, he didn’t bash the Vandy defenders when the South Carolina press baited him to say that Vandy was trying to hurt him. Only was complimentary saying it was like he had been hit by a “truck” when Charles Wright hit him.

Take over of the series

Vanderbilt has been pathetic in its series with South Carolina. The Commodores are currently in a 9-game losing streak. Since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992 Vandy is just 4-21 against the Gamecocks. In the same period Vandy has beaten Tennessee five times, Ole Miss eight times, Kentucky 11 times, Auburn twice (10 meetings) and Georgia four times. Yes, there were some pretty good teams under Steve Spurrier but there’s no reason Vandy couldn’t have done better. Even in 1999 when South Carolina went winless the Commodores struggled to an 11-10 victory. If Vanderbilt is to consistently go to bowl games they need to beat the Gamecocks more often.

Saturday’s game kicks off at 3 pm CT (4 pm ET) and can be seen on the SEC Network.