Stanford -2.5 2.2* winner
I almost jumped on the bandwagon on Thursday night with USC, but I just could not pull the trigger with Stanford just being one of the more resilient programs around. They return their QB and head coach and the rest usually falls into place. They only have 12 overall starters returning, but revenge is clearly on their mind after they lost at USC last year as the #4 ranked team in the country. Now USC comes into their building with a ton of hype and I think Stanford should be able to get a win with revenge on their mind all spring and summer and no lookahead games in sight. Keith Hogan will look like a Heisman candidate as he connects with Ty Montgomery. I also think Hogan will be a bit mobile against one of the best defensive lines in the country which will allow them to pick up first downs and move the chains.