#4 Stanford (8-1, 6-1) is a little over a week away from their minor/major upset of previously third-ranked Oregon and needs only a win this Saturday and a victory next week to advance to the Pac-12 title game and potentially the national championship if a few things go their way. USC (7-3, 3-2) has also seen a recent turn in fortunes following three straight conference wins. A "W" versus the Cardinal would put them back in the national rankings. The two teams play Saturday night at 8:00 pm E.T. on ABC, ESPN reported.
Behind a brutal running game that produced an unheard of 66 carries for 274 yards, including 45 totes for Tyler Gaffney (1,043 yards, 13 TDs), Stanford scored the first 26 points at home against Oregon last week and held on 26-20 for the win. At the same time, they shut down the Ducks' running game and kept Heisman hopeful Marcus Mariota in check until the fourth. The Cardinal received just 107 yards from QB Kyle Hogan, who's been nothing but solid this season with 13 TDs against 5 picks, according to ESPN. They'll look to continue their roll against USC.
"I think we're at that point in the season now where we can't afford to go up and down," Stanford head coach David Shaw said to ESPN. "It's November, and there's only one way you can play in November, and that's all-out."
Will we see another 66-carry game against the Trojans? Probably not, as USC seems equally average against the pass as the run. The best matchup should be between the USC rush offense, which has gone for 458 yards in its last two games, and the Stanford rush defense, which yields a conference-best 98.7 ground yards per game, according to ESPN.
Stanford is favored by 7.5, according to CBS Sports.
For radio stream from the Stanford station, click here.
