Stanford Cardinal head football coach Jim Harbaugh took the College Football Picks program to it's 1st bowl game since 2001 but lost in the Sun Bowl to the Oklahoma Sooners 31-27. The Cardinal also won at USC for the second time in as many tries and that is something to be proud of, most teams don't win at the Los Angeles Coliseum once, let alone in 2 consecutive trips. Gone from the potent Cardinal offense is Heisman runner up Tobe Gerhart who was taken in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL draft. The 2009 Cardinal finished 8-5 overall and against the spread, going over the betting odds total 8 times and under 8 times, now isn't that something, a team wit hthe same record straight up, against the spread and on totals. The Stanford offense ranked 11th in the nation rushing the ball, averaging 218 yards per game but only ranked 70th throwing the ball, averaging 209 yards per game and scored a little over 35 points per game which was 12th in the nation. The Stanford defense reall y stunk it up last year giving up almost 403 total yards per game, most of it was through the air, opponents threw for over 264 yards per game which ranked 110th nationally. The defense also allowed 26.5 points per contest.
The 2010-11 Stanford Cardinal will go as far as sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck allows them too go, Stanford may have beaten the Oklahoma Sooners if Luck would not have been sidelined with a broken finger. Luck will throw to returning wide receivers Ryan Whalen and Chris Owusu who can go deep on just about anyone in the game. The real strong point of this football team will be the offensive line which will again allow Luck ample time to find open receivers and who ever the running back is, they will love running behind these guys, 4 of 5 starter from last year return in the trenches and the leader is Center Chase Beeler. The running load will be shared by Stepfan Taylor, Tyler Gaffney and Jeremy Stewart.
There is a lot to do on the defensive side of the football for the Cardinal in 2010, the first thing coach Jim Harbaugh did was bring in Vic Fangio from the NFL to run the show. The defense will be led by middle linebacker Shane Skov who is athletic and relentless. THe defensive line is not bad either but here is help needed in the secondary. Cornerback Richard Sherman and strong safety Delano Howell are solid but still, the team ranked 110th in the nation and allowed 23 touchdowns through the air. Stanford will go 7-5 and get to another bowl game but as far as winning the PAC 10 conference championship, well that may have to wait another year.
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