The one C&F was least looking forward to.

Let's go ahead and get it out there, because there shouldn't be much suspense: I see no way the Gamecocks will win this game. Not in the "all-hope-is-lost, mail-it-in" sense. Of course there are ways that South Carolina can win. But to say I'm pessimistic is putting it wildly. I fully expect to lose this game.

This is a team that outscored its opponents by nearly 12.5 ppg and returns 17 starters. Okay, make that sixteen. They're not just blowing smoke with that national title talk. The spelling-challenged Dawgs are for real.

OFFENSE

Offensive line. Well. How things have changed. The injury to Trinton Sturdivant -- occupying the important left tackle position -- has left the Georgia faithful somewhat crestfallen.

The dim view says this is a serious, serious blight on any championship hopes. Without Sturdivant, we will return only two starters on the O line and one of those will be playing a new position. If Boling moves, every O line spot will have a new face this year. On the line, experience counts and we'll be breaking in someone new everywhere. A potential strength has now turned into a very ominous question mark.

 

An optimistic view says this is bad, but manageable.

Quarterbacks. Sure, QB Matt Stafford has had his issues before. And C&F is not just talking about the color coordination of his kegging companions. Even last year, he only got his completion percentage up to 55.7 percent. But, again, Georgia Sports Blog puts things in perspective.

Richt has coached two Heisman winning QBs and the winningest quarterback college football history. If he says that 62% is the right number for Stafford, then who am I or Matt Hayes/Dennis Dodd/Etc to argue? Stafford is only 1.7 completions per game away from that goal. Again, is that really so far off?

In any case, Stafford is far more experienced than Tommy Beecher, and without seeing more from Beecher, we can't assume that talent will offset the edge in experience. ADVANTAGE: GEORGIA

Running backs. I'm really looking forward to Mike Davis' rushing this year. I think he can have a solid season. But if you don't see the difference between Davis and Knowshon Moreno -- well, I don't know how to help you. Davis could be good; I'm not thinking he's a Heisman contender. ADVANTAGE: GEORGIA

Why can't he just run away?

Wide receivers. Mohamed Massaquoi returns for his 19th breakout season after having another ho-hum year with 32 catches for 491 yards and four scores. He was not their leading receiver last year; that honor went to Sean Bailey (39, 615, 5), who does not return. If the offensive line worries work out, this is the weakest part of the offense. Give Kenny McKinley and Co. the edge. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

DEFENSE

Defensive line. Marcus Howard is gone, taking with him his 12 TFL, including 10.5 sacks. But Geno Atkins (14.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks) returns. Jeff Owens and Roderick Battle also aren't too shabby. There's no reason to believe that the Dawgs will do much worse than the 109.9 ypg and 3.3 ypc they allowed last year. South Carolina's line might improve more than Georgia's, but there's also more room for improvement. ADVANTAGE: GEORGIA

Linebackers. If you like watching good linebackers play, this is a game for you. Georgia's three returning starters accounted for 182 tackles, 21 of those for loss. J-Brink and Eric Norwood don't have the gaudy numbers from last year, largely because of Brinkley's injury. The thinnest of margins here. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

Secondary. The Dawgs picked off the opposing passer 15 times in 2007, and return three starters and another player who got significant playing time. Of course, South Carolina returns all four starters after grabbing 14 interceptions. Still, Georgia is probably just a little bit better. ADVANTAGE: GEORGIA

SPECIAL TEAMS

Brandon Coutu is gone, which is good news for anybody that faces Georgia, and he is replaced by true freshman Blair Walsh. The Mayor has tried to turn this into a positive from a strategic standpoint (it's a stretch, methinks), but I don't see anybody saying he won't be a downgrade at K. Succop will likely stay on at kicker, though the idea of someone else doing the punting is getting traction. But Ray Rychleski has some work to do on the return squad. ADVANTAGE: PUSH

COACHING

This has gotten a lot closer in recent years. No doubt, Mark Richt is one of the best in the business now, especially since the emergence of Evil Richt. But Spurrier still has a jump on him when it comes to the number of SEC crowns and national championships. However, those came at another school. You sort it out. ADVANTAGE: PUSH

Evil, but good.

RESULT

The Gamecocks can keep this one close if the defense plays the way we know it's capable of playing. But, again, this might be the toughest game on the schedule this year. It's hard to see how this turns out well. LOSS

THE REST OF THEIR SEASON

Again, this is my pick to win it all. So, um, pretty good. Again, if they get through South Carolina and Arizona, they could easily be 7-0 going into the toughest stretch on the schedule: at LSU, Florida (in Jacksonville), at Kentucky and at Auburn. If the Dawgs can manage a 3-1 record there, they can head to the SEC CG with an 11-1 record and, if the loss is to LSU or Auburn, a possible shot at redemption. They won't miss twice.

When you really get down to it, South Carolina and Kentucky have got nothing on Vanderbilt when it comes to futility.

All three of the teams have struggled against the titans of the SEC East since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. But Vanderbilt has the most stunning historical number of all of them, spanning back decades. The Commodores' bowl record is 1-1-1.

They have been to three bowl games. That's fewer than the number of bowl wins by either South Carolina (4-9) or Kentucky (7-5).

So the futility here did not begin with Bobby Johnson, and he has perhaps done more than any other Vanderbilt coach to try to reverse it. Vandy has fallen one game short of postseason eligibility in two of the last three seasons, and in 2006 they fell two short. For Nashville, this is progress.

Progress just in time, though, for a step back this season. There are few people who believe that Vanderbilt will be bad this year. The question everyone seems to be asking is: How bad? 2-10 bad? Or just 4-8 bad?

There seems to be a perception that this year is marking time, that Vanderbilt intends to make a run (if it ever will) in 2009. But the games in 2008 still have to be played.

So maybe, in 12 months, Bobby Johnson will be a happier man. In the meantime, he best keep some aspirin nearby.

Calm down, Bobby. Things will get better with time. Maybe.

OFFENSE

Offensive line. Vanderbilt's offensive line this year has as many combined career starts as the university has bowl appearances. Quick refresher for those with short-term memory issues: That's three, or fewest in the country, according to Phil Steele, who adds this typical understatement: "This figures to be a problem area in 2008." South Carolina's o-line is up a notch in 2008, but it doesn't really need to be to stack up favorably to the Dores. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

Quarterbacks. Vanderbilt actually has two experienced, semi-competent quarterbacks returning this year, in the forms of Mackenzi Adams and Chris Nickson. Neither has won the job, but either would have more experience than Tommy Beecher, who will still only be in his second game as a full-time starter. ADVANTAGE: VANDERBILT

Running backs. Cassen Jackson-Garrison had a great name, but pedestrian numbers, rushing for 650 on 148 carries last year. He scored five times in his final season. Vanderbilt has no returning back who rushed for more than 360 yards last year. (Though Adams ran for 397.) ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

Wide receivers. Earl Bennett was an incredible player for any team, much less for a perpetually downtrodden school like Vanderbilt. But he and his 830 receiving yards and five touchdowns are gone this year. The best returner in terms of yards is George Smith, with 397. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

DEFENSE

Defensive line. The Dores actually had a run defense that South Carolina fans would have taken last year: ranked 32nd in the nation, allowing 128.2 ypg on the ground. On the other hand, three of last year's four starters are gone. But non-starter Broderick Stewart brings back his team-leading six sacks and 8.5 TFL. And Steven Stone, who did start last year, was tied for second in sacks with four. But whether they can stop the run consistently is an open question with a defensive line until it has the playing time to prove itself. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

The key to Vanderbilt's defense line?

Linebackers. Patrick Benoist was the other man tied for second in sacks on the team, also with four. His 32 tackles, though, are also the most among the team's LBs. This unit obviously pales in comparison to one of the best in the SEC. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

Secondary. This is easily the strongest part of Vanderbilt's defense. They ranked 18th last year, allowing 197.1 ypg. The entire unit returns intact. That means CB D.J. Moore, SS Reshard Langford and company. Moore had six picks and was second on the team with 83 tackles. ADVANTAGE: VANDERBILT

SPECIAL TEAMS

Ryan Succop has almost 2.5 yards more on his average punt and had a FG percentage 11.5 points above his counterparts at Vanderbilt. The return game is pretty much a wash, and Vanderbilt has struggled on special teams for years. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

COACHING

Bobby Johnson is good, and he deserves better than what he's gotten at Vanderbilt. But you have to like Steve Spurrier's chances to reach his goals of SEC contention than Johnson's chances to reach bowl games on a regular basis. ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA

RESULT

Any South Carolina fan not scared by this game needs their head examined. Last year, this was the nightmare, the game that got away and ended up costing the Gamecocks a bowl berth. That said, Spurrier has no intention of dropping a game to the Dores for the second time in his career, and he will want to "hang half a hundred" on the board in Nashville. He won't, but the Gamecocks should win comfortably. LIKELY WIN

THE REST OF THEIR SEASON

Another long year. But then, Vanderbilt has come to expect those. They could start the season 2-1 or conceivably, with a few bounces, 3-1, opening at Miami (Ohio), vs. South Carolina, vs. Rice and at Mississippi. Then, after a bye week, they face a gauntlet: vs. Auburn, at Mississippi State and at Georgia. Duke gives a possible breather before the Commodores go back into the fire: vs. Florida, at Kentucky, vs. Tennessee, at Wake Forest. Not only is a 1-7 finish not out of the question, it's likely. Anything better than 3-9 should be considered a good season.

A complete wrap later, but a few highlights:

Kenny McKinley makes first team all-SEC at WR, as does J-Brink at LB. South Carolina's second-team players are LB Eric Norwood, DB Captain Munnerlyn and P Ryan Succop.

The closer players to unanimity are WR Percy Harvin (68 votes, of a possible 70) and RB Knowshon Moreno (68).

The rankings are not terribly surprising, but conference writers are not sharing in the Georgia love this year. The East goes Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Vanderbilt. The West is Auburn, LSU, Alabama, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Arkansas.

Someone voted for Ole Miss to win the West. This tells you really all you need to know about these polls.