XBOX 360 NCAAF Simulation – Gamecocks vs. Commodores

Weather: Mostly cloudy with a 50% chance of showers; lows near 70. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Week 2 of the NCAA football betting season begins Thursday night with a pair of SEC teams taking center stage on ESPN’s Thursday Night Football telecast when the Vanderbilt Commodores (1-0 SU & ATS) play host to the South Carolina Gamecocks (1-0 SU & ATS). Kickoff from Vanderbilt Stadium is set for 8:30 PM ET. HC Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks will be hoping to avenge last year’s 17-6 defeat at home as 13-point favorites, one of the worst games they played in 2007.

1st Quarter:

After the Gamecocks special teams set their offense up with great field position, QB Chris Smelley found WR Kenny McKinley for a 23 yard strike, and then RB Mike Davis rattled off a 25-yard TD scamper to give Spurrier’s club a quick 7-0 lead right out of the gates.

Vanderbilt’s offense looked out of sync on its first two plays from scrimmage, and then QB Chris Nickson tried to force one where he shouldn’t on third down and CB Carlos Thomas made him pay by snagging it out of the air and returning it 35 yards for a score to increase the Gamecocks lead to 14-0 before the crowd could even get situated in their seats.

South Carolina online bettors were grinning from ear-to-ear after that, but the Commodores kept their composure and came up with a TD drive of their own on their next possession to cut the lead to 14-7. Vandy’s defense came up big forcing a three and out, but its offense suffered the same fate and we headed into the second quarter with the visiting Gamecocks up 14-7.

SOUTH CAROLOLINA 14 VANDERBILT 7

2nd QUARTER

The Gamecocks got a big Smelley to McKinley strike to kick-off the second stanza, and Spurrier's club found itself 1st and goal at the ‘Dores 7-yard line. Vandy’s “D” stepped up and stonewalled a pair of rushes, and then deflected a pass to force the Gamecocks to settle for three.

K Ryan Succop split the uprights on a 21-yarder and SC increased its lead to 10 (17-7). Vandy started its fourth offensive drive of the game from its own 32-yard line, and did nothing on its first two plays. Then lightning struck again when CB Carlos Thomas jarred the ball loose on a bubble screen that was scooped up by another SC defensemen and returned 42-yards for another defensive score (24-7).

Now shell shocked, and losing both SU and ATS at this point, Vandy looked to get back in the game by deciding to go for it on 4th and short at midfield. However, SC’s defense stepped up huge once again and stonewalled the effort to give its offense fabulous field position. SC wasted no time as Smelley found McKinley on a pair of huge passing plays that allowed RB Mike Davis to stroll in from 2-yards out to increase the lead to 24.

SOUTH CAROLOLINA 31 VANDERBILT 7

3rd Quarter

Vanderbilt looked to come out strong in the second half, but the quarter couldn’t have started any worse for the home team. QB Hickson decided to throw to CB Thomas’s side of the field, and he made him pay be hauling in his second interception of the game. Vandy’s defense buckled down and forced SC to attempt a 46-yarder that Succop nailed to push the game ‘total’ exactly on the predicted number a couple minutes into the third quarter (34-7). College football bettors with over tickets in their hands can now turn this disgrace of a game off and hope for just one more score. SC’s defense teed off on the ‘Dores on its next possession forcing them 3 and out, and the offense was set up perfectly at Vandy’s 46 after a solid punt return.