USC vs STANFORD
When: 8:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 8, 2018
Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California

TV: 8:30 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: STANFORD , USC

Oddsmakers currently have the STANFORD listed as point favorites versus the USC, while the game’s total is sitting at .

After cruising past a pair of Mountain West foes last week, No. 12 USC and No. 9 Stanford meet Saturday in Palo Alto in a rematch of last season’s Pac-12 Championship Game. Freshman quarterback JT Daniels threw for 282 yards and a touchdown in USC’s 43-21 season-opening win over UNLV, while Stanford wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside caught three long scoring passes from K.J. Costello in a 31-10 victory over San Diego State.

Arcega-Whiteside was named Pac-12 Offensive player of the Week after catching six passes for 226 yards while San Diego State focused on stopping Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Love, who was held to 29 yards on 18 carries after rushing for 2,118 yards last season. “It’s no secret Bryce is the best running back in the country,” Costello told reporters. “We all believe it. There were times I came to the line and there were 11 guys coming downhill to light him up. Being able to counter that is what you have to do to be a good offense.” Love looks to bounce back against USC, which has won 16 of its last 17 conference games. Daniels became the second true freshman quarterback to start an opener for USC and went 22 of 35 for 282 yards against UNLV, connecting early and often with former high school teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown, who had seven receptions for 98 yards and a score.

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Stanford -5.5

ABOUT USC (1-0): Chase McGrath kicked five field goals to tie a school record against UNLV while Daniels had plenty of help from his running game as Aca’Cedric Ware rushed for 100 yards and a score and Vavae Malepeai scored two TDs. USC allowed just two sacks with redshirt freshman Brett Neilon starting at center in place of senior Toa Lobendahn, who is questionable due to a strained pectoral muscle. Cameron Smith and Isaiah Pola-Mao combined for 14 tackles while linebacker Porter Gustin had two sacks to lead the defense, which allowed 308 rushing yards against the Rebels and will need an improved effort to keep Love contained.

ABOUT STANFORD (1-0): Costello finished 21 for 31 for a career-high 332 yards and four touchdowns against San Diego State as the Cardinal won their 11th straight home opener and improved to 24-5 against in-state opponents under coach David Shaw. Linebackers Bobby Okereke, Joey Alfieri, Sean Barton and Mustafa Branch helped limit the Aztecs to 113 passing yards while senior punter/kicker Jake Bailey forced San Diego State to start 11 of 12 possessions inside its 30-yard-line. The defense allowed a total of 263 yards but struggled to slow down Juwan Washington, who rushed 24 times for 158 yards and a TD.

EXTRA POINTS

1. USC holds a 62-32-3 series lead against Stanford – including a 31-28 win in last season’s Pac-12 title game.

2. Seven of the past 12 meetings in the series have been decided by eight points or fewer.

3. Stanford has allowed a total of 10 sacks over the past 11 games covering 308 pass attempts.

PREDICTION: Stanford 28, USC 24

The post USC vs. STANFORD 9/8/2018 Free Pick & CFB Betting Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

SAN DIEGO ST vs STANFORD
When: 9:00 PM ET, Friday, August 31, 2018
Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California

TV: 9:00 PM
LINE: -14.5
PREDICTION: STANFORD , SAN DIEGO ST

Oddsmakers currently have the STANFORD listed as -14.5 point favorites versus the SAN DIEGO ST, while the game’s total is sitting at 49.

Most fans expected Stanford running back Bryce Love to be in the NFL this week, but instead the scholar-athlete will be in the lineup Friday when the 13th-ranked Cardinal hosts San Diego State in the season opener for both teams. Love returns for his senior season after leading all Power 5 running backs last year in yards rushing (2,118), yards per carry (8.1) and 100-yard games (12).

Stanford won the Pac-12 North for the fourth time in the past six seasons last year and returns 18 starters, including Love, the Heisman Trophy runner-up who finished with 19 touchdowns and had 13 rushes of at least 50 yards. “I’ve never seen anything like what Bryce did last year,” coach David Shaw told reporters. “We don’t want to take it for granted. We try not to, but you end up doing it. At some point in the game, he’s going to leave everybody behind and we line up for a PAT.” The loaded Cardinal offense also features their top four receivers from last year and junior quarterback K.J. Costello, who took over as the starter midway through last season. Stanford is looking to avenge last year’s 20-17 loss to San Diego State, which has relied on its stellar running game to go 32-9 over the past three seasons.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Stanford -14.5

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE (2017: 10-3): The Aztecs have had back-to-back 2,000-yard rushers in D.J. Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny and could extend the streak with Juwan Washington, who will receive a heavy workload after rushing for 759 yards seven touchdowns last season. Senior quarterback Christian Chapman returns behind a strong offensive line for the Aztecs, who were picked to finish second in the West Division of the Mountain West. San Diego State ranked 21st nationally in scoring defense last season and returns a strong secondary led by safety Tariq Thompson, who finished with five interceptions.

ABOUT STANFORD (2017: 9-5): The Cardinal was picked to finish second in the North Division of the Pac-12 behind Washington but could surprise if they’re able to answer questions on the defensive line, where sophomore Jovan Swann is hoping to build on a strong performance in the Pac-12 championship game. Costello has plenty of weapons on offense with receivers JJ Arcega-Whiteside and Trenton Irwin and tight ends Kaden Smith and Colby Parkinson primed for big seasons. Stanford has allowed only nine sacks over the past 10 games and will be strong up front again with tackle Walker Little and guard Nate Herbig leading the way.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Stanford has won its last 10 home openers, including last season’s 58-34 victory over UCLA.

2. San Diego State has won three consecutive games against Pac-12 teams, beating California (2016), winning at Arizona State (2017) and downing Stanford (2017).

3. Stanford is 14-0 at home under Shaw against non-conference opponents.

PREDICTION: Stanford 31, San Diego State 17

The post SAN DIEGO ST vs. STANFORD 8/31/2018 Free Pick & CFB Betting Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.