DraftKings · as of July 8, 2026
Vanderbilt defeated South Carolina 31–7 to secure a comfortable win. Vanderbilt covered by 27.0; Game went Under by 10.5. The market closed at South Carolina -3.0 and the Blue Chip model made it Vanderbilt -4.7 - a gap of 7.7 points toward Vanderbilt, of which 7.0 points were beyond the model's measured factors. That was an information gap - the market pricing something the model does not carry - rather than a measured edge.
Starter LaNorris Sellers was knocked out in the second quarter with a helmet-to-helmet hit and did not return. Backup Luke Doty was ineffective, failing to lead any scoring drives. Coach Shane Beamer said it's 'way too soon' to know if Doty will start next week against Missouri, creating major uncertainty at the most important position.
After scoring a touchdown on their opening drive, the Gamecocks failed to score again. They managed only 7 points total, had costly penalties, and turned the ball over four times (two interceptions, two fumbles). The offense has struggled in all three games this season, and losing Sellers only compounds the issue.
South Carolina committed several costly penalties, and preseason All-American Dylan Stewart was ejected late in the fourth quarter for unsportsmanlike conduct after shoving a Vanderbilt player. This lack of discipline hurt the team's ability to stop Vanderbilt's balanced attack and maintain field position.
The loss to Vanderbilt, a team they had beaten 16 straight times, effectively ends any national championship aspirations. The Gamecocks are now 2-1 overall and 0-1 in SEC play, and with quarterback uncertainty, their path to contention is extremely narrow.
Running back Rahsul Faison rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown, providing a rare offensive highlight. However, the team's inability to sustain drives or protect the ball limited his impact. His performance suggests the run game could be a focal point if the passing game remains unreliable.
At kickoff, conditions at Williams-Brice Stadium were Clear, 73°F with winds of 3 mph. Weather is not expected to be a meaningful factor in this game. Historical weather data for this game is preserved in the panel alongside. Weather data is sourced from WeatherAPI.com.
Clear
73°F
| Measure | VanderbiltAway | South CarolinaHome |
|---|---|---|
| This week | 361 miles | 0 miles |
| Last week | 725 miles | Home game |
| Season total | 1,086 miles | 390 miles |
| Body clock | 18:45 | 19:45 |
| Rest | 7 days | 7 days |
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