Stanford Football: Game-by-game predictions for 2017

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PALO ALTO, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Ryan Nall #34 of the Oregon State Beavers gets tackled by Zach Hoffpauir #10 of the Stanford Cardinal during the first quarter of their NCAA football game at Stanford Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Following the first true bye week, Stanford will get Oregon State. While the Cardinal technically got a bye week on Sept. 2, they opened the season a week earlier and basically played in Week 1A while the rest of college football started in Week 1B.

Oregon State will host Stanford on Oct. 26 and many believe the Beavers will be slightly better in 2017 than they were in 2016. Meaning Oregon State has a good chance to make a bowl game instead of finishing with four wins again.

Unfortunately, I just can’t see Oregon State doing much offensively against the Cardinal. Quenton Meeks, Alijah Holder and Justin Reid are going to have a field day against first-year starting quarterback Jake Luton, a junior. He has no idea what he’s walking into and despite it being a home game for the Beavers, it won’t be pretty.

This may have “trap game” written all over it, but David Shaw will keep his guys grounded and beat the Beavers easily in Corvallis. Sure, it’ll be close for a quarter, and then the Cardinal run game will get going.

Final: Stanford 35, Oregon State 17 (7-1, 5-1 Pac-12)

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