Upset Alert: Why Vanderbilt could be poised to knock off South Carolina in Week 3

Vanderbilt will travel to South Carolina for both team’s SEC opener on Saturday. Despite the game being in Columbia, the game is being looked at as a toss-up as game day draws near.

In fact, Josh Pate believes the Gamecocks are on upset watch and is predicting the Commodores to outright win on Saturday. South Carolina comes in at 17th in Pate’s Commissioner’s Poll, while Vanderbilt sits at No. 23.

“I just don’t know that South Carolina is doing enough offensively to warrant me trusting them,” Pate said on Thursday’s episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show. “It’s LaNorris Sellers. And then look, that wide receiver production you guys promised me hasn’t shown itself yet. Offensive line has been nothing to write home about so far. This is a big moment for Vanderbilt’s offense in general.

“They really turned it on against Virginia Tech last week. (Vandy) out-gained them by 300 in the second half.”

Even though it’s so early in the season — both teams already have a common opponent in Virginia Tech. Both teams defeated the Hokies in their respective matchups, but the Commodores appeared to look more impressive in their game.

“Vandy thoroughly outplayed Virginia Tech in their own building,” Pate said. “South Carolina needed special teams magic to beat them down in Atlanta, to pull away from them. That counts — That is a true one-third phase of the game. It’s just from a predictive-standpoint — can I count on it showing up again Saturday night?”

South Carolina went on to defeat SC State 38-10 in Week 2. In those matchups, quarterback LaNorris Sellers has thrown for 337 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown an interception yet this season and is the team’s third-leading rusher with 48 yards and a touchdown to his name so far.

For Vanderbilt, star quarterback Diego Pavia is one of the biggest trash talkers in the SEC and has backed it up so far this season. He’s completed 74.4% (32-43) of his passing attempts for 468 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. Pavia has added another 105 yards of offense on the ground as well through two games.

Kickoff between the two former SEC East foes is set for 7:45 p.m. ET and will air live on the SEC Network. Despite Pate’s prediction, the Gamecocks are 3.5-point betting favorites to defeat the Commodores inside Williams-Brice Stadium. The over/under is set at 48.5 total points.