Stanford is looking stronger than I thought

[How_did_this_happen?]

I have underestimated them up until now.

Who will beat them in the north division? Not seeing any team doing that. It's not so much that they are a juggernaut, it's just that the most likely suspect, Oregon, is struggling. Washington is okay. As a rival, Cal has a reasonable chance. WSU...at home? Maybe.

Too bad they don't play Utah this season. That would be a excellent game. Maybe they meet in the PAC-12 championship game?

 

[chipdouglas]

I have underestimated them up until now.

Who will beat them in the north division? Not seeing any team doing that. It's not so much that they are a juggernaut, it's just that the most likely suspect, Oregon, is struggling. Washington is okay. As a rival, Cal has a reasonable chance. WSU...at home? Maybe.

Too bad they don't play Utah this season. That would be a excellent game. Maybe they meet in the PAC-12 championship game?

Stanford has a way of suffocating high-flying offenses and just inching toward the win until your D wears down and they start to open the game up. Goff and Cal have lost the last 3 to Stanford by an average of 30 points - including two at home. They also seem like a team that always begins to excel once people write them off (e.g., post-Northwestern).

Stanford is a tough team to hate, but if there's one good reason, it's that they have such a pitiful OOC record compared to their record in conference. In other words, they go through our conference like a wrecking ball making sure nobody climbs too high, and making sure the conference never gets too much buzz, then they get to bowl games and s--- the bed: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Michigan State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Wake Forest... every year it's the same.

I'd like to see them play Baylor and see if they can contain running and throwing. That would be a great matchup.

 

[CougPatrol]

I think they are a juggernaut. They've found a few explosive playmakers to go with the best offensive line in college football.

 

[How_did_this_happen?]

Well, they sure are taking UCLA to the proverbial woodshed tonight. What a domination.

 

[wulffui]

Well, they sure are taking UCLA to the proverbial woodshed tonight. What a domination.

If I were guessing, I'd say they and Utah will play in the championship game for a playoff spot. And hey, UCLA doesn't look unbeatable either.

 

[YakiCoug]

Well, they sure are taking UCLA to the proverbial woodshed tonight. What a domination.

And the Pac-12 powers that be have recognized it. So much so that make-believe targeting calls are being made to ensure said domination. Btw, I believe some posters here predicted the Stanford o-line would fall apart after Harbaugh left. Yet another misfire?

 

[wulffui]

That was an ESPY candidate for catch of the year.

 

[Glad Cougar]

The word "unbelievable" just doesn't fit. That catch will be watched over and over for years.

Glad Cougar

 

[froropmkr72]

And the Pac-12 powers that be have recognized it. So much so that make-believe targeting calls are being made to ensure said domination. Btw, I believe some posters here predicted the Stanford o-line would fall apart after Harbaugh left. Yet another misfire?

Hogan is looking much better than what I rated him the preseason Pac12 QB ranking. I had him at about 10th. On the positive side...UCLA doesn't look that good.

 

[YakiCoug]

Hogan is looking much better than what I rated him the preseason Pac12 QB ranking. I had him at about 10th. On the positive side...UCLA doesn't look that good.

He's got a great O-line and some very good skill players around him.

 

[Coug95man2]

He's got a great O-line and some very good skill players around him.

Almost like its a team effort, kinda thing...

 

[405 Coug]

Hogan is the most improved QB in the Pac 12 this year. For the past 2 years in watching him he was inconsistent, rarely on target, wide, low, high, throws all over the place. I don't know what he did in the off season, but now this guy can't miss. Stanford's defense while still good is not as good as it used to be, but their offense is the best they have had in 3 or 4 years.

 

[dgibbons]

Hogan is the most improved QB in the Pac 12 this year. For the past 2 years in watching him he was inconsistent, rarely on target, wide, low, high, throws all over the place. I don't know what he did in the off season, but now this guy can't miss. Stanford's defense while still good is not as good as it used to be, but their offense is the best they have had in 3 or 4 years.

I'd give that title to Travis Wilson. He's improved his game to average from steaming poo.

 

[405 Coug]

I forgot about Wilson, he was far worse than Hogan ever was, and now can actually get a ball in the general direction of his receivers.

 

[How_did_this_happen?]

If I were guessing, I'd say they and Utah will play in the championship game for a playoff spot. And hey, UCLA doesn't look unbeatable either.

A couple weeks ago I picked them as a reasonable chance to beat. We play them on the road too, which is always good for our chances.