Three Predictions: Vanderbilt-South Carolina

When the Commodores and Gamecocks square off this afternoon there are several keys to watch for as both teams are in desperate need of a win. Here are our three predictions for this week.

Vanderbilt and South Carolina meet later this evening with both teams desperately needing a win for bowl eligibility, and to avoid finding their name listed in the basement of the SEC East standings. 

It is the Commodores whose name rests at the bottom currently, but a win for Vanderbilt would send the Gamecocks to the basement and move the black & gold out, while also helping them move one game closer to bowl eligibility. 

Here are our three predictions for today's game. 

1) The Team Who Runs It Best Wins: It's no secret that Ke'Shawn Vaughn is option one for Vanderbilt. His counterpart, Tavien Feaster leads Carolina in rushing and total yards from scrimmage.Both teams will lean on what's gotten them to this point, the legs of their running backs.

PREDICTION: The team that rushes the football for the most yardage will win this game. Carolina averges 182.0 rushing yards per game while their defense is allowing 144.6 yards per game. Limiting the former while increasing the latter will mean a Commodores win.     

2) Hilinski Vs Hasan: Neither team's starting quarterback is very experienced in SEC play. Hilinski is a true freshman who has started 7 games in place of the injured Jake Bentley and lead Carolina to their upset win over Georgia. 

He's also shown he is a true freshman, struggling at times and has managed just one game this season where he has completed more than half his pass attempts- 75% in the upset of Georgia- while throwing 8 touchdowns versus 3 interceptions. 

Hasan has started just one game for the Commodores, their win over Missouri. He has  less experience than Hilinski.

One quarterback will lead his team to a win, but which one will it be?

They left the lights on for us!! #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/4noSHxfdKD

— Crazy Clark Lea (@ClarkLeaYo) November 2, 2019

PREDICTION: Neither quarterback will be outstanding, as both will make some plays and I think each one will throw the ball to someone in the wrong color jersey before the night is done. 

Hilinski will throw for the most yards in this one while Hasan will make a play with his legs as the two teams battle it out.  

3) FINAL SCORE: The two teams will come in hungry and it will be a battle early on through the first half, but the Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde in these two squads scares me. 

Both are capable of playing really good football but then they are both equally capable of providing a clunker. 

This one won't be a clunker, but Carolina makes just enough plays to win. 

PREDICTION: South Carolina 28 Vanderbilt 24