Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina College Football Week 7 Preview, TV Schedule, Prediction

TV Schedule: Saturday, Oct. 17, 4:00 p.m., ET, SECN

Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC

Line: SC (-3)

In arguably the most shocking piece of college football news this week, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier announced his resignation Tuesday after 11 years with the Gamecocks. Even before Spurrier’s resignation, it had been a rough couple of weeks for South Carolina. The Gamecocks are 2-4 after losses to Kentucky, Georgia, Missouri and LSU. Its only wins have come against North Carolina and UCF.

In its 22-26 loss to Kentucky, starting QB Connor Mitch suffered a separated shoulder and was later hospitalized with a hip infection. The injury was supposed to sideline him for 4-6 weeks, and it’s been five. Without Mitch, true freshman Lorenzo Nunez has been starting and putting up impressive numbers (374 yards and three TDs in three games), but it’s not enough for the struggling Gamecocks.

Spurrier’s resignation comes on the heels of true tragedy and even bigger loss. Last week, their game against LSU had to be moved from Columbia to Baton Rouge because of the flooding facing the state of South Carolina. The Tigers did all they could to make the Gamecocks feel at home, but the Gamecocks were still distracted and lost what was technically a home game.

Rightfully, the Gamecocks were preoccupied with things bigger than football, and it seems likely this week will be no different. Although the players know interim HC Shawn Elliott from his time as offensive coordinator, the Gamecocks will probably be just as distracted this week against Vanderbilt.

Luckily, Vanderbilt is famous for its academics more than its athletics. The school isn’t called the “Harvard of the South” because it wins a lot of sporting competitions. It will still be a tight game, but the Gamecocks can afford to be a little less focused this week.

The Commodores are 2-3 (0-2 in the SEC) after a rout of Austin Peay (47-7) and an eked out victory over Middle Tennessee (17-13). Vanderbilt’s defense did not fare well against Ole Miss’ multiple style offense (a 16-27 loss) and faces a similar offense in South Carolina. Vanderbilt barely averages more points than it allows (21.2 versus 18.4, respectively) and allows 320.8 yards per game.

South Carolina only needs 341.7 yards and 20.7 points, so this should be a close matchup. But Vanderbilt has more to overcome on the field than even South Carolina off it, so expect the Gamecocks to win a nail-biter.

Prediction: South Carolina 21, Vanderbilt 17

Hannah Fields is a Tennessee Titans and SEC Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @hanfran7, “Like” her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.