South Carolina Gamecocks vs Vanderbilt: Three Key Matchups
When the South Carolina Gamecocks take on the Vanderbilt Commodores there will be a few key matchups that could decide the game’s outcome.
First is a player vs player battle.
CB Victor Hampton vs WR Jordan Matthews
Hampton might be the best player left in South Carolina’s depleted stable of corner backs. Therefore, he’ll probably be matched up with Vandy’s best wide receiver most of the night on Thursday. Matthews, a 6-3, 205 lb. junior, caught 41 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns last year. Hampton will be quite undersized in this battle; the sophomore is just 5-10 197 lbs.
SC’s defensive line will get to Jordan Rodgers at QB often, but they won’t get to him every time he drops back to pass. If Hampton can blanket Matthews on those plays, this game should be in the bag for South Carolina.
Next is a unit battle.
SC’s Front Seven vs Vandy’s Offensive Line
It seems obvious that this would be a matchup to watch, but it is even more of a key battle in this game; If Vanderbilt’s young offensive line can figure out a way to keep Rodgers off his back, the Gamecocks could be in for a long night in Nashville. If Jadeveon Clowney and co. dominate this aspect of the game, it’ll be hard for Vandy to even break into double digits.
The last one is about coaching.
Steve Spurrier vs Himself
Odd, I know. And no offense to coach Franklin at Vandy; This is a serious matchup to keep an eye on if things go a certain way.
Last year, the Gamecocks got down big to ECU early in the game. Spurrier kept it together, marched Stephen Garcia on to the field, and delivered a healthy dose of ground and pound the rest of the game.
If his team gets down a couple touchdowns to the Commodores in the first half of this game, will Spurrier stick to his Marcus Lattimore, read option, pound the defense into submission game plan? Or, Will he try to open things up and put some quick scores on the board to get his guys back into it.
No matter what happens, Spurrier has to rely on the run game this year. I’m not saying run a 60/40 split run-to-pass ratio, but if a game is ever the other way around (60/40 pass-to-run) you’ll know without looking at the score it was either a close game, or a big loss for the Gamecocks.
How will the most important matchup of them all play out? The actual USC, VU matchup? Check back in with Garnet and Cocky to get a full preview tomorrow, and stay locked in with us until then for breaking news and all the Gamecocks sports info you want.