Why Oregon Should Worry: Vegas Pac 12 Predictions Week 8

Saturday Blitz Vegas Pac 12 Predictions Week 8

No. 23 Stanford Cardinal at No. 17 Arizona State Sun Devils

Line: Stanford by 3

This is a game between two opposite styles. The team who gets to play its style is the team that will prevail. Stanford knows it should be undefeated right now, and with this road game against Arizona State, the key is to force the Sun Devils into a defensive game. They shouldn’t worry about whom the Sun Devils decide to start at quarterback as long as they can do their part by mounting long drives, using Kevin Hogan and Ty Montgomery to make key plays, and making sure the defense plays the way it has played all day. A low scoring game favors them, and it should take the home crowd, which is used to seeing shootouts, out of the game as well.

Arizona State, meanwhile, should first go with starting Mike Bercovici at quarterback. He has proven that he can play after stepping in, and the job should now be his to lose. But what they also need to do in this game is get D.J. Foster involved more heavily than the past two games. Doing that will at least keep a balanced offense, and Arizona State could then match Stanford when it comes to ball control and time of possession. This game may require more efficient play as opposed to going for broke every time, the way Arizona State likes to do, and Foster will be the key to that. Bercovici making incredible plays with Jaelen Strong in crucial moments will help as well.

Prediction

This is the type of game that plays into Stanford’s favor. To be fair, we said the same thing when the Cardinal played USC and Notre Dame, but they gave those games away. David Shaw’s team will make sure to avoid doing that here. The Cardinal will pull out another tough, hard-fought win in which the Sun Devils are forced out of their element by not racking up 35 points. This is a Stanford victory on the road.

Stanford: 27 Arizona State: 20