South Carolina football: Predicting the Gamecocks final record
By Jacob Elsey
Predicting South Carolina football’s final record
Vanderbilt Commodores, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
The Gamecocks have beaten the Commodores on 12 straight occasions, including last year’s 41-7 blowout in Nashville. Vanderbilt has again been predicted to finish in the cellar of the SEC standings, and will be the one sure league game in which South Carolina will be favored.
Vandy enters the season with a new coaching staff after the removal of Derek Mason, and they’re looking to pick up their first conference win in 14 tries. That streak began with a loss to the Gamecocks in the 2019 season.
While many believe that Commodore grad Clark Lea can be the man to turn the program around, success won’t be immediate. Expect South Carolina to continue its dominance over its SEC East rival and move that win streak to 13 games.
W (5-2)
Texas A&M Aggies, Kyle Field, College Station, TX
The Aggies just have the Gamecocks’ number. The two programs have faced off each year since 2014. The first few meetings were close, with three of the original five matchups being decided by a touchdown or less. The last two seasons have been anything but, though.
In 2019, it was a 30-6 beatdown, where the Aggies rushed for more than 300 yards. Last year was even worse, a 48-3 drubbing.
Gone from those teams is quarterback and four-year starter Kellen Mond, but the Aggies still have plenty of talent in the backfield. Texas A&M should be able to utilize Isaiah Spiller and a potent rushing attack to wear down the South Carolina defense.
The Gamecocks will need to score to win, and they’ve not been able to do that in recent memory, totaling just nine points in the last two matchups combined. We’re not expecting this year to be much different, as the losing streak extends to eight games against the Aggies.
L (5-3)