South Carolina @ Vanderbilt preview
Vanderbilt Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2009 ) Vanderbilt 10, South Carolina 14
No matter the locale, South Carolina has had trouble winning Southeastern Conference games on the road. The 20th-ranked Gamecocks haven't won a conference game away from home in more than two years.
If the Gamecocks want to stay in the hunt for their first trip to the SEC title game, that streak must end Saturday at Vanderbilt.
South Carolina (4-2, 2-2 SEC) has lost seven consecutive SEC road games, a streak that was extended with last week's 31-28 loss at Kentucky in which the Gamecocks squandered an 18-point lead.
And now it looks like the Gamecocks might have to try to snap the skid without leading rusher Marcus Lattimore, who sprained his ankle early in the second half against Kentucky. The freshman, who has rushed for 536 yards and 12 touchdowns through his first six collegiate games, is listed as doubtful and will not start even if he is able to play.
Kenny Miles will start in his place. Miles rushed for a team-high 626 yards last season, but he has only 34 yards on nine carries this year and hasn't had a carry in the past three games.
Without Lattimore, the Gamecocks might have to lean on their passing game, which has been led by junior quarterback Stephen Garcia and sophomore receiver Alshon Jeffery.
Garcia threw for a career-high 382 yards against Kentucky and ranks fifth in the nation with a passer efficiency rating of 171.0. Jeffery leads the SEC in receptions (6.7) and receiving yards (115.0) per game.
Jeffery also was hurt against Kentucky, injuring his thigh, but he is expected to play Saturday.
Vanderbilt knows all about that connection - Garcia hit Jeffery for a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to lift the Gamecocks to a 14-10 win in last year's meeting. Miles rushed for 102 yards in that game.
The Commodores (2-4, 1-2 SEC) still hold slim hopes of winning the SEC Eastern Division, but they didn't look like a title contender in last week's 43-0 loss at Georgia, their first shutout since 2003.
Vanderbilt managed only 140 total yards against the Bulldogs, the second time this season it has failed to break the 150-yard mark.
The Commodores rank last in the SEC in scoring offense (20.8 points per game) and total offense (315.2 yards per game) - and things haven't been much better on the other side of the ball, where they rank last in the conference in total defense (378.8 yards per game) and rushing defense (191.8 yards per game).
Junior quarterback Larry Smith had only 70 passing yards last week, a season-low, in large part because he was under constant pressure. That isn't likely to improve against the Gamecocks, who rank second in the nation with 22 sacks. Defensive ends Devin Taylor and Melvin Ingram lead the way with 4 1/2 sacks apiece.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier won his first 15 games against Vanderbilt, but the Commodores have won two of the past three meetings.
The Gamecocks lead the all-time series 15-4, including last year's win in Columbia.