Stanford Football: Game preview, prediction, live stream vs. Arizona State

Stanford football rebounded from a pair of losses with a blowout of UCLA in Week 4. Will it keep to its winning ways when it faces Arizona State?

With losses to USC and San Diego State, it appeared midway through September that Stanford was vastly overrated. Then they finally played their first home game of the season, and the Cardinal showed why they were a preseason Pac-12 contender with a 58-34 blowout of UCLA that might have solved the quarterback question on the Farm.

This week, Stanford remains home to welcome Arizona State. The Sun Devils got a statement win of their own in Week 4, upsetting a ranked Oregon team in Tempe to move to 2-2 on the season. Manny Wilkins topped the 1000-yard passing mark on the season in the win over the Ducks, linking up early and often with speedy receiver N’Keal Harry. The win quieted the hot seat talk surrounding ASU head coach Todd Graham, though it didn’t completely silence the discussion.

After several bouts of #Pac12AfterDark for both teams, they will get to switch it up with an early-afternoon contest on the West Coast this week. Arizona State heads to the Bay Area for the first time since 2013, and it has been a decade since the Sun Devils last won in Stanford Stadium. Be sure to tune in for the rematch of the 2013 Pac-12 championship game when David Shaw’s team welcomes Arizona State in interdivisional play.

Here’s how to watch Saturday’s game between Stanford and Arizona State:

Date: Saturday, Sept. 30
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Location: Stanford, Calif.
Venue: Stanford Stadium
TV: Pac-12 Network
Live Stream: Pac-12 Live

Keys to Victory

Bryce Love will produce no matter what, win or lose. But Stanford has struggled to pass the ball for much of the season. That seemed to change somewhat in the win over UCLA, as David Shaw and the offensive staff finally turned to K.J. Costello under center. Where neither Keller Chryst nor Ryan Burns could get the job done against the Bruins, the younger Costello excelled. Completing 13 of his 19 attempts, Costello threw for 123 yards and two touchdowns in limited action.

He will likely get the start this week, and he will need to provide better balance for Love’s hard running. Against an Arizona State defense ranked in the bottom six nationally in passing yards allowed, Costello will need to exploit the Sun Devils on Saturday to keep them from stacking the box and keying in on Love.

Arizona State, meanwhile, needs to continue bringing pressure with the front seven on defense. The Sun Devils rank fourth nationally in team sacks, and they will need to disrupt Costello’s timing in order to give their beleaguered secondary a chance. Kalen Ballage and/or Demario Richard need to finally have big games as well, in order to run down the game clock and limit the opportunities Love gets to run in the opposite direction.

Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of Sportsbook Review

Point Spread: Stanford -16
Over/Under: 63.5

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Complete first round after Week 4

Prediction

Arizona State won over Oregon last weekend thanks largely to a hostile environment, a solid passing game, and a bare minimum of mistakes. The Sun Devils won’t be so lucky this week against a Stanford defense that is still looking to put up a vintage performance this season.

Look for K.J. Costello to throw for 250 yards and two touchdowns, while Bryce Love racks up another 200-yard game on the ground with three touchdowns. The Cardinal will prove effective against an Arizona State defense that bottled up Oregon’s offensive attack, moving the chains at least 20 times as they keep up momentum and string together long drives.

On defense, the Cardinal will intercept Manny Wilkins at least twice as part of a four-turnover day for the Sun Devils. Stanford will get a couple short fields as a result, but they will still enjoy at least 15 more minutes of possession in this shootout. Stanford will cover the spread with a late score as they reinsert themselves into the Pac-12 North race.

Final Score: Stanford 38, Arizona State 21