Vandy was defensively dominant last week in thumping Ole Miss 30-7. Vanderbilt picked off five passes and Trey Wilson's interception return for a TD was the Commodores' third this season. Vanderbilt held Ole Miss to just 234 total yards. That defense ranks 20th in the nation in points allowed at 14.0 per game. The Commodores lead the SEC in turnover margin at plus-six and have picked off 10 passes, one more than all of last season. They rank fifth nationally in pass efficiency defense and 10th in total defense, giving up 250 yards per game. Vandy also leads the SEC with eight sacks.

Still, the Commodores aren’t going to beat good teams without more through the air from QB Larry Smith. They are No. 111 in the nation in passing at just 141.3 yards per game. Franklin is Vanderbilt’s first coach to start 3-0 since World War II, and that was a coach who filled in for only one season in 1943.

The Gamecocks (3-0) have been playing with fire in their past two games, beating both Georgia and Navy by just a field goal. Marcus Lattimore might now be a Heisman favorite. He had 246 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 37 carries last week against Navy. Lattimore is averaging 178 yards a game so far and South Carolina is 9-0 when he carries the ball at least 19 times in his young career. However, that USC defense has been downright gouged at times in all three games. It ranks in the bottom 20 in the nation in points allowed at 33.3 per game.

USC beat Vanderbilt 21-7 last year behind Stephen Garcia, who had 355 yards passing and two scores. Lattimore missed the game due to injury. Vandy has won two of the past four meetings.

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