[LINE-crush-ER]

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Although the final score did not reflect it, South Carolina was stagnant offensively in its season opener last Thursday night.

Steve Spurrier and the 24th-ranked Gamecocks will aim for a better offensive effort seven days later when they visit Vanderbilt in the nationally-televised Southeastern Conference opener for both schools.

South Carolina (1-0) started slowly before pulling away for a 34-0 season-opening victory over North Carolina State. Gamecocks quarterback Tommy Beecher - tabbed by Spurrier as the starter this past spring - threw four interceptions in his debut before exiting with a shoulder injury in the third quarter.

Beecher was replaced by Chris Smelley, who completed all five of his passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Spurrier said Tuesday that Smelley, who started six games as a freshman last season, would replace Beecher against the Commodores.

"(Smelley) deserves to start probably if Tommy wasn't injured," Spurrier said. "But Tommy is injured, so we don't have to worry about this, that or the other. It appears Chris is going to be our starter right now unless something happens between now and Thursday night."

Smelley led the Gamecocks to a 4-2 record in the games he started last year. He appeared in a total of seven contests, completing 57 percent of his passes for 1,176 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions.

However, Smelley struggled in last year's 17-6 loss to the Commodores in Columbia. He tossed two interceptions to a Vanderbilt defense that recorded seven sacks against South Carolina's quarterbacks in the game.

Vanderbilt (1-0) rolled to a 34-13 victory over Miami, Ohio last Saturday. Quarterback Chris Nickson rushed for a career-high 166 yards and two TDs for the Commodores, who have lost their last four home games against the Gamecocks.

South Carolina owns a 14-3 record in its all-time series with Vanderbilt and has not lost here since 1998.

[LINE-crush-ER]

South Carolina Defense Will Hold '
10 Points Will Be Here On This Game
Take South Carolina
24-10

[SECfan23]

I agree. The defense gave up nothing last week and i dont see Vandy moving the ball much either. Im thinking a 27-6 or 34 -7 type score.

The quaterback may have been the reason but the entire offense just looked better under smelly last week. I was talking to all the people around me at the game and we all agreed that the line, recievers, and running backs produced more under the command of smelly. It was a completely different offensive unit when he came in.

And we all know what Vandy did to us last year in Columbia. I dont see Spurrier holding any punches tomorrow night.

[Brock Landers]

Vandy +10 1/2 AT HOME

[JRS21386]

I like Vanderbilt to Cover...

[juuso]

Took Gamecocks -9.5 few days ago for a little bit.

[pags11]

Smelley is a much better QB and definitely feel he should be starting this week...my concern with Vandy is that Nickson is the entire offense...watched the tape last week and saw no playmakers...the Moore kid who returns punts is pretty talented...no opinion here...

[teaserpleaser]

seriously no playmakers ... running backs its a understatement to say they lack explosiveness the SC D looked like the real deal my only concern is Throwing into the Vanderbilt secondary.CB #5 Myron lewis is the weak link in the secondary if Miami Oh can pick on him I think Chris smelley and and SC can too. 5dimes has under 21 for the first half that looks good to me what do you think?