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Confident Vanderbilt ready for No. 9 Gamecocks

By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Going into their second season together, James Franklin says his Vanderbilt Commodores are so confident they feel they could beat the NFL's Green Bay Packers with a home-field advantage.

Well, the Packers aren't coming to help his Commodores open the season Thursday night. The ninth-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks are, and Franklin and his Commodores are ready for the challenge, expecting to finish with a win.

The coach says "belief is a very powerful thing, and we have that right now."

South Carolina comes in having won eight straight and 9 of its last 10 against SEC East opponents. The Gamecocks also have won 12 consecutive season openers, and they beat Vanderbilt 21-3 last season holding the Commodores to a measly 77 yards of offense.

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