COLUMBIA, S.C.-- Is this a surprise? It shouldn't be-- not if you've followed college football this season. I don't think many in Columbia considered the Gamecocks a top 10 team. A close call against UNC and now a loss to Vanderbilt has confirmed it.
Start of third quarter: Vandy 17 South Carolina 6
COLUMBIA, S.C.-- After two quarters, the Commodores are still in command.
A look at the halftime stats, though, show that the two early Gamecocks turnovers were the only real differnce. But while the 80,000 fans wait for a comeback, Steve Spurrier's offense continues to sputter.
Start of second quarter: Vanderbilt 17 South Carolina 0
You couldn't ask for a better start if you're a Vandy fan. You couldn't ask for worse if you're a Gamecock.
South Carolina turned the ball over twice in its first five offensive plays, and the Commodores turned it into 10 quick points. The Williams-Brice crowd, which appears close to capacity despite the early start, was eerily quiet after the Commodores scored on a 22-yard pass from Mackenzi Adams to George Smith.
COLUMBIA, S.C.-- There's a distinct smell to Williams-Brice Stadium, and it's not the elephant ears from the state fair across the street.
It's the possibility of an upset.
South Carolina struggled in the second half of a 21-15 win against unranked UNC last week. Vanderbilt pushed Georgia to the brink before losing on a last-second field goal.
It would stand to reason, then, that the Gamecocks would be wary. South Carolina is ranked No. 6 in the initial BCS rankings, its highest BCS ranking ever. It will be interesting to see how well coach Steve Spurrier has prepared his team, especially with a marquee matchup at Tennessee looming.
