Washington State vs Stanford | Pick

NCAA Football Free Pick – Saturday, October 23, 2010

vs.

Washington State (1-6, 0-4) at No. 12 Stanford (5-1, 2-1), FCS, 5:00 P.M. ET

Despite losing their fifth in a row since a 23-22 win over FCS opponent Montana State, and being outscored 116-44 in their six losses, the Cougars do look like they are getting better.

But they will now face Heisman hopeful, QB Andrew Luck, and a Stanford Cardinal team who are coming off a bye and looking to build on a dramatic last-second 37-35 home win over USC on Oct. 9.

Luck went 20 of 24 for 285 yards and three TDs and led Stanford on a 51-yard drive that set up Nate Whitaker’s 30-yard field goal as time expired.

Now Luck will look to demoralize a Cougars defense that’s yielding an FBS-worst 493.9 yards per game, but did have one of its best defensive performances of the season in a 24-7 home loss to then-No. 17 Arizona on Saturday. The Cougars held the Wildcats to 352 yards of offense, their lowest total allowed in two seasons.

Offensively, Wazzou’ s ground game ranks among the worst in the nation with 80.1 yards per game, so a lot of the Cougs’ ability to move the ball rests squarely on sophomore quarterback Jeff Tuel, who has 1,735 yards and 10 TDs on the year, but managed a season-low 297 yards in the teams loss to the Wildcats.

In the teams’ last meeting at Stanford Stadium, the Cardinal won 58-0 on Nov. 1, 2008.

I am afraid the Cardinal might be too physical on both lines for the young Cougs, who’s lost 13 straight in Pac-10 play.

Prediction: Stanford – Bet Now

Odds: Washington State: +35 – Stanford: -35 – Over/Under: OFF

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Team records:

• Washington State: 1-6 SU, 4-2 ATS
• Stanford: 5-1 SU, 3-2 ATS

Washington State Cougars most recently:

• When playing in October are 0-10
• When playing on grass are 0-10
• After being outgained are 1-9
• When playing within the conference are 0-10

Stanford Cardinal most recently:

• When playing in October are 4-6
• When playing on grass are 9-1
• After being outgained are 7-3
• When playing within the conference are 6-4

A few betting trends to consider:

• Washington State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Stanford
• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Washington State’s last 8 games when playing Stanford
• Washington State is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Stanford
• Washington State is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games when playing Stanford
• Stanford is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games at home
• Stanford is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
• The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Stanford’s last 8 games when playing Washington State
• Stanford is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Washington State

Next up:

• Washington State at Arizona State, Saturday, October 30
• Stanford at Washington, Saturday, October 30