South Carolina’s first road game of the season Saturday is likely its least challenging, but coach Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks aren’t taking Vanderbilt lightly.

“Watching them on tape, their players play smart, aggressive and hopefully we can go to Nashville and play like a good team,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “Hopefully we can play better as we go through the season. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Saturday Down South analysts Stephen Garcia and Brad Crawford aren’t sure how competitive this one will be considering the Gamecocks are a three-touchdown favorite and the Commodores have major issues on offense ranking among the nation’s worst in several categories, but South Carolina’s yet to play a complete game in its own regard.

Spurrier’s squad brings renewed swagger into this one after most had written off the Gamecocks as an Eastern Division contender after an eye-opening loss to Texas A&M. Vanderbilt has given the Gamecocks fits during the HBC’s tenure, but this isn’t the same team coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons.