South Carolina will have a chance to match last season's conference win total when they open the season with Vanderbilt in Week 1. Meanwhile, a win for the Commodores would mean they would be halfway to their 2015 total. Wins are always at a premium in the SEC, but for these two programs, a chance to get an early win on their resume presents itself as a truly rare opportunity.
The Commodores will return a veteran defense that promotes versatility and is especially tough on the running game. As a unit, they really took to the leadership of head coach Derek Mason who elected to be his own defensive coordinator in 2015. They excelled in the red zone last season, ranking No. 6 in the country and trailed only Georgia in the SEC. Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham is a tenacious playmaker who has the physicality to stuff rushing attempts up the middle while also possessing an aptitude to bounce outside to fill leaks elsewhere in Vanderbilt's defense. He was named first team All-SEC by the league's coaches last season and eclipsed the century mark with 103 tackles.
Fellow redshirt junior Oren Burks will man the "star" hybrid linebacker-safety role in Derek Mason's defense that should allow him to be the crack down on outside runs while also enabling him to be a force in coverage. Burks can capitalize on mistakes and led the team with three interceptions last season.
South Carolina plans to shuffle two quarterbacks into the game, presumably senior Perry Orth and freshman Brandon McIlwain, but regardless of who is captaining the offense, Vanderbilt's defensive personnel means that decision-making will be critical for the Gamecocks' quarterbacks. A lapse in mental judgment could easily result in a significant loss or even a pick-six with fierce playmakers like Cunningham and Burks roving all over the field.
Offensively, both teams have significant question marks. Head coach Will Muschamp will be piecing together an undefined backfield with his multiple quarterbacks and will also be relying on a running back by-committee approach. Redshirt freshman A.J. Turner looks primed to get a majority of the carries in Week 1, although redshirt junior David Williams will also be a factor, despite an underwhelming 2015 season and a poor first impression with South Carolina's new coaching staff.
Vanderbilt's quarterback Kyle Shurmur was a highly touted high school prospect but had mixed results in his freshman campaign after he emerged as Vanderbilt's starter. He completed just 42.7 percent of his passes in five games.
Vanderbilt's featured back Ralph Webb is more of a known commodity after compiling 1,152 yards on the ground in 2015, the second highest total in the history of the program. Webb will likely be depended on to shoulder a significant portion of Vanderbilt's offensive attack.
Vanderbilt will also likely try to exploit South Carolina's unproven and undersized secondary unit. Look for Shurmur to target the 6-foot-1 receiver Trent Sherfield frequently when they put the ball in the air. Sherfield is coming off a productive season where he racked up 659 receiving yards and 51 receptions.
Both programs have a lot to lose here. Vanderbilt's bowl aspirations will take a heavy hit with a defeat to South Carolina, especially considering how difficult the back end of their schedule is. The Commodores need a fast start. On the other hand, Muschamp desperately needs to get off on the right foot after earning a second chance in South Carolina. Expect emotions to run high, and the team that manages those emotions will likely be the one to enter Week 2 with a conference win under their belt.