Stanford at Oregon State Spread

Stanford can exhale, for now.

After a huge win last week and a big game next week against a fellow top-19 resident, this week’s contest would qualify as a “trap game” for the Cardinal.

The nation’s longest winning streak on the line as Stanford takes its 16-game run to Corvallis to face Oregon State Saturday afternoon.

Stanford has won 49 of 77 all-time meetings, but is just 3-7 in the last 10 meetings. Oregon State has won the last two games in Corvallis, in 2009 and 2007. Stanford however, has won nine of its last 10 road games and has a current seven-game road run. But Stanford has lost its last three games in the state of Oregon.

According to the latest odds, Stanford is favored by 20.5 points and the total (over/under) is set for 60.5 points.

Stanford

Stanford enters the week off a thrilling three-overtime win at USC last week (56-48) and a home date with fellow top-10 Oregon on the docket next week. Stanford has scored at least 37 points in every game this year and had allowed 21 or fewer in every game before last week.

Stanford ranks third nationally in scoring with 49 points per game, posting 506 yards of offense per contest (291 passing, 215 rushing). Last year’s Heisman Trophy runner-up Andrew Luck has completed 72 percent of his passes for 2,218 yards and 22 touchdowns with just four interceptions. His offensive line, however, has allowed just four sacks all season. Luck has completed 33 passes to Chris Owusu for 370 yards and two TDs, while Griff Whalen has added 30 catches for 447 yards and one score. Stepfan Taylor leads the running attack with 796 yards and eight TDs (5.9 yards per carry), with Tyler Gaffney adding five scores and 288 yards (6.9 ypc).

The Stanford defense has been stout all year, ranking a solid 13th nationally in points allowed (17 ppg), giving up 329 total yards per contest (244 passing, 85 rushing) while posting 25 sacks and forcing 13 turnovers – with two of those being returned for TDs (Michael Thomas, interception; Max Bergen, fumble). Jarek Lancaster has a team-best 43 tackles with two sacks, while Thomas has 40 with a sack, two picks and two fumble recoveries. Chase Thomas has 5.5 sacks with three forced fumbles, and Devon Carrington has two fumble recoveries.

Ty Montgomery averages 31 yards per kickoff return and has a 96-yarder for a TD.

Oregon State

After an 0-4 start, the Beavers have alternated wins and losses the last four games – and are coming off a 27-8 loss at Pac-12 newcomer Utah last week. That marked just the second time this year that OSU was held to fewer than 19 points in a game (shut out at Wisconsin). OSU has lost four straight against top-25 opponents, but has recorded 10 “upsets” in the last six years – at least one in each of those seasons.

The Beavers rank 83rd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 30 points per game and 377 yards per contest (222 passing, 155 rushing). The squad has recorded 17 sacks and forced 16 turnovers, with one returned for a TD (Jordan Poyer, interception). Michael Doctor is the top tackler on the squad with 53 stops, adding 2.5 sacks and an INT. Poyer has a team-best three picks, Scott Crichton has 4.0 sacks and four forced fumbles, while Dylan Wynn has five fumble recoveries.

Offensively, OSU ranks just 90th in scoring (23 ppg), producing 391 yards per game (289 passing, 102 rushing). Sean Mannion has completed 65 percent of his passes for 2,195 yards and 10 TDs with 13 interceptions. His offensive line has allowed 15 sacks. Eight different players have at least 10- catches, with Markus Wheaton leading the way with 57 grabs for 702 yards and a TD, though the top scoring receiver is Joe Halahuni with three TD grabs among his 20 for 153 yards. Malcolm Agnew has rushed for 401 yards and four TDs (5.3 ypc).

The Beavers have blocked five kicks this season – Andrew Seumalo has two, with Crichton, Clayton York and C Masaniai one each. Poyer averages 17 yards per punt return and has one return for a score. Johnny Hekker averages 45 yards per punt.

Comments

Got something to say?