Stanford Football: 5 bold predictions for Alamo Bowl vs. TCU
By Zach Bigalke
1. Stanford will emerge victorious by double digits
As of a few days before the game, TCU is a 2.5-point favorite against Stanford according to most oddsmakers. The Horned Frogs certainly have the firepower on offense and the championship-level defense to come away with an 11th victory. But they cannot get complacent against a Stanford team that was a few turns of luck away from being 12-1 rather than 9-4.
A month of recuperation will make a world of difference for Stanford. Every team benefits from the extra rest, of course. But the fact that Love will be on the field at full strength is the biggest game changer of them all. He will show why he would have been a worthy Heisman winner as he cracks the code on TCU’s stout rushing defense.
Costello’s revelatory play at quarterback will give Stanford fans hope for next season even after Love’s departure. And the defense will do its part as well, with the comeback win fueled by big stops of the Horned Frogs offense.
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In the end, Stanford is going to run away with victory in its first Alamo Bowl appearance. TCU will look hot in the first half, building up a big lead before Love finds the endzone. It will be in the neighborhood of 21-14 or 21-10 at the half. But a second-half surge by the Cardinal will push David Shaw’s team to 10 wins for the third straight year as they pull away for a 10-point victory in Texas.