2008 Stanford Cardinal Football Predictions

Head coach Jim Harbaugh got the Cardinal off the basement floor in year one and excited fans with a thrilling one-point win at USC and against rival Cal. Will the progress continue in year two or will Stanford quickly find the gutter again? Jimmy Boyd's 2008 Stanford Cardinal predictions and season preview provide his expert take. The betting line on Stanford is 33-1 odds to win the Pac-10 Conference.

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Offense

The QB spot is not solidified, but Tavita Prichard has to be the favorite. He started seven games a season ago and beat USC. He'll battle it out with Michigan transfer Jason Forcier and Alex Loukas in fall camp. There are nearly as many questions at wide receiver since Stanford must replace Mark Bradford and Evan Moore who combined for 90 receptions in 2007. Junior Richard Sherman will have a starting job and will likely be joined by underclassmen Doug Baldwin and Ryan Whalen. With experience in the offensive line and at tailback, Stanford may want to try its luck at a power running attack. Anthony Kimble and Toby Gerhart give the Cardinal a pair of reliable options in the backfield. Tyrone McGraw and Jeremy Stewart also saw some carries last season. The quartet combined for better than 1,300 yards in 2007, and that has me believing that the running game can be a success. Second team All-Pac-10 guard Alex Fletcher will combine with right tackle Chris Marinelli and talented left tackle Allen Smith to control the trenches.

Defense

One would think that Stanford's defense would continue to progress with nine starters returning, but losing their architect, defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, to Michigan could be a hiccup that isn't relieved this season. His defense was young and it gave up a lot of points, but the toughness Shafer instilled made them a respectable unit in the red zone and always a turnover threat. Stanford should do an even better job against the run with the best defensive line they have had since early in the decade. Ends Pannel Egboh and Erik Lorig combine with tackle Ekom Udofia to form the core. All of the linebackers return as well, including Clinton Snyder with his eight sacks and four forced fumbles a season ago. The secondary returns everyone but the valuable Nick Sanchez. Bo McNally, last season's top tackler, is an All-Conference candidate at free safety.

Special Teams

Special teams is an area where Stanford could really stand to improve, but it won't happen this season. Replacing four-year punter Jay Ottovegio, kicker Derek Belch, and long snapper Brent Newhouse will not be easy tasks.

Prediction – 9th Pac-10

Harbaugh may be able to work his magic against Cal again in the regular season finale, but beating USC in 2008 is out of the question. With seven road games, a bowl bid is also out of the question. Another four-win season with this schedule is expected and the only team they finish higher than is Washington State. Five wins and a finish higher than Washington or Arizona will be a major success story. Check out all the Pac-10 Conference betting lines at BodogLife.com.

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July 12th, 2008