David Shaw should be given a ton of credit for the way he’s kept the Stanford Cardinal on solid ground even in the post-Jim Harbaugh era. Last year was a bit of a disappointment at 8-5, but with 10 starters coming back to the team on offense, there is a real chance to be a Pac-12 contender once again in 2015.
2015 SCHEDULE
9/5: at Northwestern
9/12: vs. UCF
9/19: at USC
9/25: at Oregon State
10/3: vs. Arizona
10/15: vs. UCLA
10/24: vs. Washington
10/31: at Washington State
11/7: at Colorado
11/14: vs. Oregon
11/21: vs. California
11/28: vs. Notre Dame
The schedule this year is tough as always for the Cardinal, as there isn't a single game of reprieve on the docket. Non-conference games against Northwestern, UCF and Notre Dame are all potential banana peels, but should the Cardinal get through this slate at 11-1, they are in good shape for a spot in the CFP.
The best part of this season though, is that the last three games are all in Palo Alto, which could put on a big surge for a team which very well could trip up a few times along the way early on.
SEASON WIN TOTAL
A season win total of nine feels about right for the Cardinal, though the vig on the over is tantalizing at +130.
You have to think that this team will at worst go 2-1 outside of conference play this year, which puts the breakeven mark at 7-2 in the Pac-12. That's a tough task, but it should be noted that the only road game against a conference contender is going to come early on against USC September 19.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
No one is talking about Kevin Hogan as a Heisman Trophy contender this year, but perhaps we should be. The senior had high hopes coming into Palo Alto, though obviously, expectations were a bit tempered after Andrew Luck dominated the Pac-12 for a few years.
Still, this offense should take some major steps forward this year with 10 returning starters, including Hogan, and we would be stunned if the team isn't ranked in the Top 40 in the nation rushing and passing.
The end result last year was just 27.2 points per game, though we just can't see this team being held in the teens five times again as it was last year.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Stanford’s defense was fantastic last season, but there are some real concerns this year. Shaw is bringing back just four men from that side of the ball which ranked in the Top 10 nationally in virtually every notable category.
Kevin Anderson and Blake Martinez will combine to headline a very good linebacking corps, but there is a real question at the back end after Alex Carter left for the NFL. Zach Hoffpauir is a senior at safety with legitimate NFL prospects.
SEASON PREDICTION
Stanford isn't getting a ton of respect this season at just 60 to 1 to win the National Championship, and it is the fourth favorite on the board to win the Pac-12 at 6 to 1.
That said, we really think this team is going to win 10 games this year and finish ranked in the Top 10 in America, good enough to at least get to a New Year's Six bowl game.
Hogan should be able to do enough for the offense, while Shaw should be able to put a defense together good enough to slow down some of the big boy teams in the Pac-12.
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