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South Carolina tries to stay atop SEC East vs. Vanderbilt

Oct 20, 2007 - 10:39 AM Vanderbilt (3-3) at No. 6 South Carolina (6-1) 12:30 pm EDT

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) -- South Carolina has a pretty good shot at staying on top of the Southeastern Conference East Division for at least another week.

Steve Spurrier's sixth-ranked Gamecocks host last-place Vanderbilt on Saturday in an SEC East matchup.

South Carolina (6-1, 3-1 SEC East) has a half-game lead over Kentucky and Tennessee in the brutal division, one whose fifth-place team is defending national champion Florida.

Last week, the Gamecocks stepped out of conference play and edged North Carolina on the road, 21-15.

Chris Smelley threw three first-half touchdowns for South Carolina, which was blanked after the break but nevertheless improved to 4-0 with the redshirt freshman starting behind center.

Vanderbilt (3-3, 1-3) nearly pulled off an upset last week but fell to Georgia at home, 20-17.

The Commodores held a 17-7 halftime lead but could not score again and lost when Brandon Coutu booted a 37-yard field goal with no time left.

South Carolina has won seven straight in the series, including a 31-13 triumph in Nashville last year.