The Vanderbilt Commodores and the South Carolina Gamecocks meet Saturday in college football action from Williams-Brice Stadium. Vanderbilt played last weekend versus Auburn. In that matchup the Commodores dropped to 2-8 overall with a 16-point loss. As for South Carolina, they’re coming off a Saturday game versus Jacksonville State. The 3-6 Gamecocks would go on to win by 10 points. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.

Vanderbilt Commodores 

The Commodores managed to win just two of their first nine games, averaging 25.7 points per game with 30 total touchdowns. Vanderbilt put up 242.9 yards per game through the air during that time, but also recorded 11 interceptions against 19 pass scores. On the ground the Commodores averaged just 92.8 yards per game with nine rushing touchdowns. 

In their last game versus Auburn, Vanderbilt gave up 14 points in both the first and third quarters during a 31-15 defeat. Ken Seals threw for 160 yards, one TD and one interception along the way, and Sedrick Alexander led the rush with 40 yards. Will Sheppard added four catches for 43 yards as well. 

Vanderbilt Commodores Team Facts

• Vanderbilt has lost 18 of its last 19 road games against conference opponents.
• Vanderbilt has failed to cover the spread in each of its last seven games against non-AP-ranked teams.
• Vanderbilt has lost the first half in 17 of its last 18 road games against conference opponents.
• Each of Vanderbilt’s last four games in November have gone UNDER the total points line.

South Carolina Gamecocks 

Over on the South Carolina side, they’ve struggled this year as well with just two victories in their first eight outings. The Gamecocks scored similarly with 25.4 points per game and 25 total touchdowns, struggling in the run game with 86.1 yards per outing and 11 scores on the ground. South Carolina otherwise managed 14 passing touchdowns and five picks in that stretch. 

Matched up against Jacksonville State on Saturday, the Gamecocks scored in every quarter (including double-digits in the first and fourth) during an upset win 38-28. Spencer Rattler managed 399 yards with two scores and a pick, and Mario Anderson added 75 rush yards. Tops in receiving was Xavier Legette, who went off for 217 yards and two scores on nine catches. 

South Carolina Gamecocks Team Facts

• The favorite has won each of South Carolina’s last 10 games.
• South Carolina has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games.
• South Carolina has lost the first half in each of its last four games against conference opponents.
• South Carolina has won the first quarter in four of its last five home games against conference opponents.
• Eight of South Carolina’s last nine games at Williams-Brice Stadium have gone OVER the total points line.

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll stay with South Carolina here. The Gamecocks showed how good they’ve got the potential to be against Jacksonville State over the weekend, collecting 488 total yards (399 passing), 20 first downs and three takeaways. There’s still plenty of room for improvement however, considering the 10 penalties and 4-of-14 success rate on third downs. Still, it was a much-needed victory that halted the four-game losing streak. 

As for Vanderbilt, they managed a tepid 266 yards (166 passing), 12 first downs and 2-of-14 rate on third-down tries in their latest loss to Auburn. The Commodores have been at 15 or fewer points in three of the last four games, so they’re still struggling offensively. I like a slightly better effort on the scoreboard here but I don’t think Vanderbilt will cover.