Title hopes on line for a few, rivalries on tap for others

“So with a master’s program, what better place than Stanford?”.

The Big Game was a little sweeter for Stanford.

It is wonderfully delicious irony that the first graduate transfer in Stanford history came from its arch-rival in Cal. And yes, there were a few hard feelings from Cal fans when Scarlett made his announcement last spring that he would be transferring to “Furd” for his final year of eligibility. Lives-real metaphorical lives-are at stake here! Big showdown with USC to keep pressure on Stanford.

Cal drove deep into Stanford territory again on the next possession, but the drive stalled when a penalty moved the Bears out of the red zone and Goff’s pass on 4th and 14 landed incomplete for a turnover on downs.

The Bears were leading the nation in turnovers gained through five weeks – and five times they won.

The Utes will make their second-to-last road trip of the season this weekend when they travel to California one last time to take on Cal and Stanford.

Late in the second quarter, McCaffrey grabbed a screen pass from quarterback Kevin Hogan and sped through the Cal defense for a 49-yard touchdown. They get a fired up Wildcats team in rivalry game. How naive we were! The field goal from Anderson pushed the score to 47-24. They have barely been competitive with Stanford in recent years, highlighted by a 63-13 loss in 2013 that capped a 1-11 season.

Stanford has won six in a row in the series. As for Stanford, it is 8-2 straight up and 7-3 at the betting window, including 4-1 against the number at home. Washington State also put up a fight, but the Cardinal D stiffened up on the last drive to force the Cougars to attempt a field goal. The Trojans control their own destiny, if they can beat OR and take care of UCLA in next week, they can clinch the Pac-12 South. Borrayo is ready for more of that, even with the likelihood that senior running back Daniel Lasco (ankle) will be at less than full strength. Each contributed a touchdown, which provided the margin in a 38-36 upset. Now the Cardinal hope to resuscitate their playoff hopes with Cal and #4 Notre Dame left on the schedule.

Sure, they’ve heard of his all-purpose prowess – how he’s carried Stanford to a Pac-12 North title and an outside shot at the College Football Playoff – but they haven’t seen it unfold over the course of 60 minutes.

With Solomon Thomas and Aziz Shittu as the Cardinal’s only other viable options at defensive line and Stanford having had to play linebackers as down linemen in nickel sets this season, Scarlett’s presence hasn’t just been a pleasant surprise for Stanford – it’s been a necessary one.

Aziz Shittu and Solomon Thomas join Scarlett on the line. The two have combined for 15 starts, all this season, and have impressed with their ability to get into the backfield. Shittu has the second most TFL on the team with seven, and Thomas is close behind with 6.5. Blake Martinez (23 consecutive starts) is the star of the unit and the defense as a whole. Stanford is 12-1 following a loss under coach David Shaw….Eligible to play in a bowl game for the first time since 2011, Cal will try to boost its standing among Pac-12 teams headed to the postseason. Harris leads the team with 10 passes defensed, creating a big void for Alameen Murphy to fill. Unphased, Mangum unleashed a pass in the director of receiver Mitch Mathews, who somehow caught the ball among a throng of Nebraska defenders right at the goal line to score the winning touchdown for BYU with no time left in the game.