It’s a long shot, but the Stanford Cardinal still could play in the BCS
National Championship Game if the Cardinal can beat Notre Dame on Saturday night
and get plenty of help around the country over the next few weeks. Stanford is a
7-point favorite over the visiting Irish in the regular-season finale for
both.
The Cardinal are No. 6 in the BCS standings and
thus would need four of the five teams above them to lose, but crazier things
could happen. Stanford also could back into the Pac-12 title game if Oregon
loses at Oregon State today. The Cardinal bounced back from a blowout loss to
the Ducks with a 31-28 win over Cal last week – Stanford has scored at least 30
points in every game this season. Cardinal QB Andrew Luck, who
might not be the Heisman favorite any longer, threw for 257 yards and two scores
against the Bears. A win here would all but assure Stanford a spot in a BCS
bowl.
No. 22 Notre Dame (8-3) has won four in a row. The Irish didn’t
look particularly good last week in squeaking by a bad Boston College team
16-14. The win was costly, however. Running back Jonas Gray
continued his breakout year, rushing for 61 yards and extending his
scoring streak to eight games with a 26-yard rumble on the opening drive. But he
suffered a serious knee injury in the third quarter and is lost for the year.
Gray, a senior, rushed for 791 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. His
6.94-yard average per carry is 10th among the nation’s top 100 rushers,
Cierre Wood, who has rushed for 1,001 yards and nine scores
this year, becomes the starter again. He carried the ball a career-high 26 times
against the Golden Eagles.
Win or lose, Notre Dame is likely headed for
the Champs Sports Bowl. The Irish lead the all-time series with Stanford 17-8.
Last year in South Bend, the Cardinal won 37-14. Luck threw for 238 yards and a
score but also two picks. Stanford is 21-3 at home over the last four years (88
percent), which is the best four-year stretch in school history. The Irish are
7-1 ATS in past eight games as a dog. The road team has covered in four of the
past five meetings.
Bet on college football at Bodog: HOME OF INTENSE COLLEGE
RIVALRIES
| Kyle Hunter | |
| Kyle Hunter MLB Season Pass (#1 Capper) *VALUE* Kyle Hunter's MLB Season Pass is the BEST value on the board. Through one month of the 2012 MLB season my clients have been CRUSHING the books. $1,000 bettors have profited more than $25,000 in the first month of the season! Get all my picks for the rest of the season! Join in the winning! - $499.99 | |
Click here to view all of today's premium picks.
