Stanford Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017
Another trip down the road to San Diego will be on tap for the Cardinal in Week 3. San Diego State boasted an 11-3 record a season ago under head coach Rocky Long, but the Aztecs are losing one of the best running backs in all of college football: Donnel Pumphrey.
The Aztecs had the seventh-best rushing attack in all of college football last season, averaging over 260 yards per game on the ground, but that looks to be changing this year. Although senior Rashaad Penny has the talent to replace Pumphrey, finding his backup won’t be a simple task.
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Penny did, however, rush for over 1,000 yards last season and he’s going to be the main target for the Stanford defense. If the Cardinal stack the box and focus on the run, they should be just fine. In fact, junior quarterback Christian Chapman led the Aztecs to the 119th-best yards per game mark through the air last season. Passing won’t be a problem.
Keller Chryst will have yet another big game, following his solid showing against Rice in Week 1, and he will torch San Diego State’s secondary for 350 yards and three scores. Bryce Love will add 125 yards on the ground and the Cardinal win soundly.
Final: Stanford 38, San Diego State 21 (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12)