CFB odds: Four consecutive BCS Bowl bids for the Stanford Cardinal, a bastion of world class academics? Hard to believe when you look back, but after Jim Harbaugh led the Cardinal to the Orange Bowl for the 2010 season, fourth year head coach David Shaw has led the Cardinal to the Fiesta Bowl in 2011 and the Rose Bowl in 2012 and 2013. During that span Stanford has won no less than 11 games each year and is in the midst of its glory years. Despite all of that success there is still the perception that Stanford will not be able to maintain such lofty standards for the long term based on their historic inability to do so. But Shaw maintains that his program is continuing to build on that success. Stanford opened as a 55/1 choice to win the BCS National Champion ship and with an over under win total of 8.5.
Tough Pac 12
The Pac 12 Conference could be one of the best in the nation and it will be tougher than ever with potentially elite programs such as UCLA and USC in the South and Oregon and Washington in the North with bowl contenders Arizona, Arizona State, Washington State, and Oregon State just to name a few. Stanford does have junior QB Kevin Hogan returning to an offense with just five starters back while the defense returns seven starters.
Handicapping Notes
Stanford has covered the spread in six out of their last 11 games at home with five out of their last nine home games going under the total. The Cardinal have been one of the top board values in any sport when it comes to road games as they have come away with the money in 15 out of their last 19 away tilts with just five out of their last 18 away games going over the total. Stanford has lost seven out of their last 12 games against the spread as a favorite with six out of their last 11 games as a favorite going over the total. The Cardinal has covered the spread in six out of their last 11 games as a dog with five out of their last nine games as a dog going under the total.
Our Prognosis
It’s hard to underrate the Cardinal after the recent run they’ve enjoyed, but we’re predicting a minor step back for Stanford in 2014.
