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Stanford's time at the top is up.

Will Phillip Lindsay rush for 100+ yards vs. Stanford

  • Yes

    Votes: 39 56.5%

  • No

    Votes: 30 43.5%
  • Total voters
    69

Justin M Guerriero

Club Member
Club Member
I believe that by the end of this upcoming Saturday, the Colorado Buffaloes will be 6-2 and will have knocked down another Pac-12 powerhouse by beating the Stanford Cardinal.

Last season, Stanford was the team that really gave the 2015 Buffaloes a wake up call. Its 42-10 thrashing of CU (granted, the game was close for a longer-than-anticipated time) brought many people (probably players and coaches alike) back to Earth in terms of what the Buffs were capable of and their ability to win games.

But gosh damn, has that gap closed this year. The Stanford Cardinal that I've done my best to keep a tab on in the last three weeks seems more than beatable.

Mike MacIntyre said Saturday night that the win over ASU was "a breakthrough win." The win at Oregon could be dismissed as last-second luck. The win over Oregon State could be dismissed as an easy win over a weak conference team. But how do critics lessen this recent win over the ASU Sun Devils? The Buffs passed all over them. They ran all over them. Our defense pounded their offense in pretty much every way. That game was a major statement. The Buffs beat a first place team with a winning record.

Onward to Stanford. As I mentioned, the last three weeks have reshaped my thinking on the capabilities of The Cardinal.

On the year, Stanford is being outscored and outpassed by opponents. I was surprised by how thin a margin Stanford is out-rushing opponents. The Cardinal averages 4.2 yards per rush, opponents average 3.8. Stanford averages 146.7 yards on the ground per game, opponents average 125.7.

Opposing offenses have run more plays, average more yards per play, average more yards per game and have scored more touchdowns that Stanford.

At the end of the day, Stanford is a 4-2 team with unimpressive wins over Kansas State and UCLA. Stanford averages just 19 points per game.

Christian McCaffrey did not play in Stanford's last game vs. Notre Dame. But in the preceding two weeks, against Wazzou and Washington he rushed 20 times for just 84 yards. I think a healthy McCaffrey inevitably will rush for 100 yards against Colorado, but I like the matchup I see.

Stanford's quarterbacks (mostly Burns) have thrown just two TDs through the air in the last three weeks. They've tossed three picks during that time frame.

To underestimate Christian McCaffrey would be unwise. Underestimating Stanford's offense as a whole might be another story.

To beat Colorado, I think McCaffrey will have to bear a lot the weight for The Cardinal's offense. He needs to play like the 2015 runner-up Heisman winner Christian McCaffrey.

I simply think that won't happen this Saturday. Stanford's offense will be too one-dimensional and too ineffective through the air, whereas the Sefo Liufau-led Colorado offense will look potent as ever. Phillip Lindsay could find himself in a position to steal the day from McCaffrey.
 
Note that Stanford played without both starting corners these last few weeks. Quentin Meeks was back this past week, and Alijah Holder may be back next week. The loss of both definitely impacted Stanford's defense negatively, especially against the Cougs.
 
In 2012, a Mac-led San Jose State lost 20-17 at Stanford. Both teams finished in the year-end Top 25. Stanford ended the season 12-2, Rose Bowl champs, and ranked #7. SJSU finished 11-2, Military Bowl champs, and ranked #21.

With the direction CU is going, I believe the team can at least be competitive if not beat Stanford. I'm still trying to figure out which sections at Stanford Stadium will have mostly the opponents' fans.
 
When was the last time you read a statement like this (especially following a game vs Notre Dame):
7. Stanford 4-2, 2-2 (No. 7 last week)
The Cardinal should be feeling good about putting some pieces back together on defense and forcing a pair of turnovers in their 17-10 win over Notre Dame. Bryce Love held his own as the featured back in Christian McCaffrey’s absence, carrying 23 times for 129 yards. Third-down efficiency was better, also. Colorado, however, will likely be a much stiffer test on both sides of the ball.

http://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post...wer-rankings-colorado-washington-state-rising
 
Creebuzz said:
Note that Stanford played without both starting corners these last few weeks. Quentin Meeks was back this past week, and Alijah Holder may be back next week. The loss of both definitely impacted Stanford's defense negatively, especially against the Cougs.
Click to expand...

Solomon Thomas is going to be a load to handle as well. I expect a physical, low-scoring game.
 
I think the Buffs handle Stanford if McCaffery is out. He is a dangerous ST weapon which is the one Achilles heal for the Buffs. If he plays, I would not punt to him once. Just go out of bounds.
 
I think a win against Stanford would be equally as big as the one we had against ASU last week.

While most of the PAC-12 has beaten us with speed and talent over the last few years, the trees have just outmuscled us and beat us down physically. A win in Palo Alto is as big to me as the win we had in Autzen. We need more work on a strong identity on the road and a win this week would help with that. It would officially make us bowl eligible. Every win from that point on is just more money in the bank. Finally, if we can go to Palo Alto and win with a solid performance we have a legitimate chance to run the table on the rest of our games.

What impressed me most this last week was our defense. This defense is going to win us some games before the year is over. It was only one week but it seemed like the USC game was a wakeup call for Jim Leavitt's crew and they could easily be the difference in the Stanford game. If our defense can bottle up the trees ground game like it did ASU we will be in great shape to carry the day.
 
Beating Stanford on the road would be huge. I realize it isn't the most hostile environment, but more confidence on the road is always big. Expectations are now pretty high for this Colorado team. We shouldn't be losing much more this year. Go Buffs!
 
I'd be careful with that though, Ballage is a totally different type of player. I'm pretty damn sure they are going to try and work the CU backers.
 
i think this is going to be a very tough game. i don't like our matchups against stanford. they are very physical and they will pound at you. i am onboard the "we're going to crush them" train, but i admit i am nervous about this one. we'll need the fast start again. take them out of their tempo and dictate the game on our tempo. they are a lot better than asu.

i will say this, however... i think usc was by far the toughest conference opponent we will face this year. they are playing really well. the differences for CU in the loss to usc, imho, were (1) sefo couldn't go the whole way at 100% and (2) they were bigger, faster, and more physical than us and it showed when they needed a key play. factor (1) hopefully won't play into the stanford game, but factor (2) could be. that's why we have to get them on their heels. usc dictated the pace and terms of the game to us and they won. we did it to asu and we killed them.

it is going to be a dogfight.
 
CUAviator said:
When was the last time you read a statement like this (especially following a game vs Notre Dame):
7. Stanford 4-2, 2-2 (No. 7 last week)
The Cardinal should be feeling good about putting some pieces back together on defense and forcing a pair of turnovers in their 17-10 win over Notre Dame. Bryce Love held his own as the featured back in Christian McCaffrey’s absence, carrying 23 times for 129 yards. Third-down efficiency was better, also. Colorado, however, will likely be a much stiffer test on both sides of the ball.

http://www.espn.com/blog/pac12/post...wer-rankings-colorado-washington-state-rising
Click to expand...

And CU is ranked #3 there too! How many were expecting THAT?

To answer your question though the last time Stanford was regarded this low was probably early in Jim Harbaugh's time.

Also, I did buy a ticket using the NORCALBUFFS promo code. It'll be at section 227 of Stanford Stadium.
 
Whaer are we on the line? to lazy to look.
Is McCaffrey playing?
not that any of this matters.I have faith the Buffs are going to continue where the left off with asu.
 
typically a home team is spotted 3 points; making a 3.5 margin essentially a pick em. Money has been coming in on the Buffs and has driven the line down.
 
Best thing that could happen to the Pac-12 is for Stanford to become a bottom feeder again. It's the equivalent of Vanderbilt, Boston College, Wake Forest, Northwestern or Kansas leading their respective conferences.
 
onealcd said:
Best thing that could happen to the Pac-12 is for Stanford to become a bottom feeder again. It's the equivalent of Vanderbilt, Boston College, Wake Forest, Northwestern or Kansas leading their respective conferences.
Click to expand...
Why so? I like the fact that Stanford has been strong and plays its own style. I'd rather see ASU a bottom feeder. Now whether Stanford can stay where they've been the past several years is another question.

Just so long as we consistently beat them, I'd rather have them as stout competition than some of the other teams. Now we just need to consistently beat them - and we will.
 
onealcd said:
Best thing that could happen to the Pac-12 is for Stanford to become a bottom feeder again. It's the equivalent of Vanderbilt, Boston College, Wake Forest, Northwestern or Kansas leading their respective conferences.
Click to expand...
Strongly disagree since they recruit nationally and the type of kid that gets an offer (that is still commitable come Feb 1) is often times going to go there.

Having USC be weak and UCLA being their normal Mediocre is what we should be hoping for. Ask BillyMac.
 
buffaholic said:
Strongly disagree since they recruit nationally and the type of kid that gets an offer (that is still commitable come Feb 1) is often times going to go there.

Having USC be weak and UCLA being their normal Mediocre is what we should be hoping for. Ask BillyMac.
Click to expand...
I'm not really talking about from CU's perspective, just for the strength of the conference as a whole. You want your big time programs to be successful, that is why the Big-10 is doing so well this year. Having Michigan and Ohio State playing well is good for college football. The Pac-12 has distribution/demand issues with the conference network so having the smallest/worst fan base dominate football for 10 years is a bad thing. This conference needs USC, Washington, Oregon and Colorado to be at the top every year.
 
married2abuff said:
Why so? I like the fact that Stanford has been strong and plays its own style. I'd rather see ASU a bottom feeder. Now whether Stanford can stay where they've been the past several years is another question.

Just so long as we consistently beat them, I'd rather have them as stout competition than some of the other teams. Now we just need to consistently beat them - and we will.
Click to expand...
This is not my personal preference or anything, obviously If I had my pick USC would lose every game they play, it is just about what is best for the Pac-12 conference and having the most disengaged fanbase in the conference as the most dominant team is not a good thing.
 
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