Two teams on opposite sides of the season opener meet up in the Colorado at Stanford pick for the NCAA week 11 schedule. Colorado goes on the road for the first time this year, riding high after a 48-42 win over UCLA last week. Stanford gets set to show that their 35-14 loss at Oregon to open the season is not indicative of how the rest of the year is going to go.
The Cardinal are a -9 point favorite in their home opener. There would appear to be value on Colorado after a 16-13 win in this matchup a year ago, but we still don’t know a lot about Stanford as their season opening loss came against a very good, #11 ranked Oregon squad in Eugene. 57% of the public is liking Stanford and the points in a bounce-back game.
Is the Colorado Offense For Real?
The Buffaloes had a lot of questions going into last week’s game against UCLA. Karl Dorrell was in his first game coaching after taking over for Mel Tucker, and had to do so with an awkward offseason. Longtime QB starter Steven Montez had graduated and top playmaker Lavishka Shenault was off to the NFL, and new QB Sam Noyer played safety last year. Even top RB Jarek Broussard was starting after knee injuries have sidelined him the past two years.
To say that Colorado’s 48-42 win over the Bruins as +6.5 home underdogs was welcomed, if not unexpected, would be an understatement. Noyer was 20/31 for 257 yards, and Broussard had 187 yards and 3 TDs while showing durability with 31 carries. Dorrell might have had some extra motivation against a UCLA team that fired him in 2007, but it was a great start nonetheless.
The season opener really wasn’t as close as the final 6-point margin would indicate, as Colorado was up 35-7 at one point in the 2nd quarter against the Bruins. UCLA ended up with 303 yards passing and 175 on the ground, but a lot of that was compiling yardage when Colorado relaxed a bit with a 4 TD lead.
Who Plays for Stanford?
The Cardinal loss was acceptable from outside circles last week, as they +11.5 underdogs at Oregon. Not only that, Stanford was hit hard with COVID testing leading up to the game, and were without QB Davis Mills and WR Conor Wedington on offense. Both players’ are cleared for the Colorado at Stanford pick, but it will also be their first game of the season.
Despite an underwhelming offensive attack and facing a 28-7 deficit by the 3rd quarter, Stanford still managed to amass 197 yards on the ground last week against Oregon. Jack West was just 13/19 for 154 yards in filling in for Mills, but the Cardinal offense should improve with their starting QB back in the lineup. Mills had 11 TD to 5 INT last year, but was also sacked 13 times in 8 games.
Free Colorado at Stanford Pick
Dorrell leads his Buffs’ team against another familiar opponent in David Shaw and Stanford. Colorado is out to prove whether their offense was good last week, or if the UCLA defense is that bad this season. Stanford did allow 269 yards rushing to Oregon last week, and another 227 through the air.
The Buffs also get some reinforcements on Saturday after Laviska Shenault’s brother, La’Vontae makes his debut after serving a suspension last week. That gives another unknown for Shaw to plan for, and makes taking the points that much more tempting.
Colorado 34 – Stanford 28
Free Pick: Colorado +9.5
