2011 Stanford Football Predictions
Written by Steve Janus
The Stanford Cardinal only loss in 2010 was a 52-31 defeat on the road at Oregon, a game in which they led 31-24 at halftime. Had the Cardinal won that game they would have been the ones playing Auburn in the National Championship Game. Stanford ended up finishing the season 12-1 thanks to their 40-12 blowout win over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately for the Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh left the team to coach the San Francisco 49ers. That opened the door for Brian Shaw to take over a team that has a great shot at winning it all in 2011. Shaw has been the offensive coordinator at Stanford since the 2007 season.
To get a better idea of what the Cardinal will look like this season, here is a breakdown of who they will send to the field on both sides of the ball. I will also give my prediction on where I see Stanford finishing the year in the newly formed PAC-12.
Offense:
Once Harbaugh announced he wouldn’t be back for the 2011 season, many expected junior quarterback Andrew Luck to follow his path and enter the NFL Draft. Luck, however, decided to stick around for another season, and try and help this team win a National Title. Luck threw for 3,338 yards with 32 touchdowns to just eight interceptions as a sophomore, and very likely would have been the No.1 pick had he left. While the Luck is just one of five starters back on the offensive side of the ball, he alone gives them a great shot at putting together another amazing run in 2011.
Stanford also brings back starting running back Stepfan Taylor, who had a great sophomore campaign with 1,137 yards and 15 touchdowns. Taylor should put up similar numbers with Luck back in the mix. Sophomore Anthony Wilkerson will once again be the backup for Taylor, after rushing for 408 yards and three touchdowns as a true freshman in 2010.
tight end Dough Baldwin and wide out Ryan Whalen combined for 99 catches for 1,296 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2010, but both neither is back. While the loss of these two would be tough to overcome for most teams, with Luck at quarterback I just expect to see other players step up and put up big numbers. Senior tight end Coby Fleener is one of those guys who figures to see his numbers jump in 2011. Fleener caught 28 passes for 434 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. junior Jamal-Rashad Patterson and senior Chris Owusu are the leading candidates to take over at the two receiver spots, while sophomore Levine Toilolo figures to step in at the other starting tigh end slot.
While the Cardinal bring back two of the best offensive lineman in the conference in junior left tackle Jonathan Martin and junior right guard David DeCastro, they must find three new starters to play alongside them. Sophomore Khalil Wikes played in five games as a redshirt freshman and should take over the starting center job. senior Tyler Mabry will step in at right tackle, while redshirt freshman Dillon Bonnell appears to have the edge at the opening at left guard. Martin and DeCastro willmake life a lot easier for the new starters, and this unit should be one of the top overall in the PAC-12.
Defense:
Senior defensive end Matthew Masifilo is the only starter back in the Cardinal’s three-man front. The biggest concern for this unit will be who takes over at nose tackle for Sione Fua. Junior Terrence Stephens looks like the man for the job coming out of spring practices, but redshirt freshman Henry Anderson should also be in the mix. Sophomore Ben Gardner and redshirt freshman Charlie Hopkins are the two leading candidates to take over at the other defensive end slot.
At linebacker the Cardinal return their two top tackles and two of the best in the conference in junior inside linebacker Shayne Skov and junior outside linebacker Chase Thomas. These two alone will make this unit a strength in 2011, but Stanford is very high on freshman inside linebacker James Vaughters and sophomore outside linebacker Blake Lueders.
Stanford should also be strong in the secondary again this season with three of four starters returning. Senior safeties Delano Howell and Michael Thomas finished third and fourth in tackles last year, and Howell had a team-best five interceptions. Senior Johnson Bademosi is back at corner, and figures to be joined by sophomore Barry Browning, who started three games as a true freshman last year.
PAC-12 Prediction: 1st PAC-12 North – This year the Cardinal get Oregon at home, and with Luck back I have them knocking off the defending conference champs and taking the division title. Not only do I think Stanford will top the Ducks, but I see them rolling through whoever wins the PAC-12 South in the title game, and finishing the season undefeated. That should land the Cardinal a spot in the National Championship, which is the exact reason why Luck decided to return.
Got something to say?
- Buy Jack's Picks
- Sports Picks
- Free Football Picks
- Football Betting
- Football Betting Forum
- Article Archives
- College Football Picks
- NFL Picks
- NBA Picks
- NCAA Basketball Picks
- Baseball Picks
- NHL Picks
- College Bowl Picks
- Super Bowl Picks
- College Football Lines
- NFL Spreads
- NBA Spreads
- NCAA Basketball Lines
- Baseball Lines
- NHL Lines
- College Bowl Odds
- Super Bowl Odds
- Betting Trends
- Gambling
- Handicappers
- Handicapping
- Matchups
- Odds Explained
- Predictions
- Standings
- Sportsbooks
- Weekly Picks
- Heisman Odds