College GameDay Weighs In on South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt Ahead of SEC Clash
On Saturday morning, College GameDay set up in Knoxville, Tennessee, ahead of the marquee SEC showdown between Tennessee and Georgia. Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, and Rece Davis led the broadcast in front of a raucous Tennessee crowd. But while the Vols-Bulldogs matchup took center stage, the crew also had plenty to say about another SEC contest — South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt.
This year’s edition of USC-Vandy carries more weight than usual. The Commodores are improved, and the Gamecocks enter with College Football Playoff ambitions. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia admitted in the offseason that he had this game “circled” on his calendar, while offensive lineman Bryce Henderson went as far as offering a thinly veiled victory guarantee, dismissing Gamecock pass rusher Dylan Stewart as “whatever.”
That energy wasn’t lost on the GameDay crew.
Pat McAfee predicted the environment in Columbia would be “electric,” calling this matchup one of the most intriguing in recent years. Analyst Steve Coughlin, better known as “Stanford Steve,” picked Vanderbilt to cover the spread, citing Pavia’s playmaking ability. He added that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the Commodores pulled off the upset.
Davis and Herbstreit both acknowledged South Carolina’s uneven start to the season but noted that quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ dual-threat ability could be the deciding factor on Saturday night.
Special teams also came into the spotlight. The panel praised punt returner Vicari Swain, wondering if the Gamecocks could notch another special teams score this weekend. McAfee gave a nod to coordinator Joe DeCamillis and head coach Shane Beamer, saying, “Beamer Ball and special teams could be what wins the game on Saturday.” Howard, however, was skeptical, insisting it wouldn’t happen.
When it came time for predictions, the panel was split.
Howard started by picking South Carolina, praising Sellers as “one of the best” quarterbacks in the nation. Saban backed the Gamecocks as well, citing Williams-Brice Stadium as “one of the toughest places to play.” McAfee and guest picker Candace Parker followed suit.
Herbstreit broke from the group, choosing Vanderbilt for the upset. While he admitted the Gamecocks are the better team, he said his faith in head coach Clark Lea and quarterback Diego Pavia swayed him, noting, “I believe in Clark Lea.”
South Carolina and Vanderbilt kick off at 7:45 p.m. in a sold-out Williams-Brice Stadium. The game will air on SEC Network and stream on the ESPN app.
