Oregon State @ Stanford preview
Stanford Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2009 ) Stanford 28, Oregon State 38
Although the Stanford Cardinal are a long shot for the Pac-10 title, they do have quite a bit of Luck on their side.
Heisman hopeful quarterback Andrew Luck and the Cardinal host Oregon State in yet another crucial conference matchup Saturday night at Palo Alto, Calif. The Cardinal still have a shot at a BCS at-large bowl berth or the Rose Bowl.
Luck did a little of everything in Stanford’s romp over rival Cal last week. The Cardinal scored the first eight times they had the ball turning the Big Game into a big laugher.
Only a last-minute touchdown by Cal receiver Isi Sofole on an 11-yard pass from Brock Mansion trimmed the final deficit to 48-14 — the largest margin of victory in series history is 41 points.
Luck threw a pair of touchdown passes in the game and also ran for 72 yards. His exciting 58-yard scamper in the first quarter brought the house down while boosting his postseason awards prospectus.
If Luck does win the trophy that run will surely be his Heisman moment. That honor at one time seemed highly unlikely but since Cam Newton has allegedly become involved in some nefarious affairs with an agent, it is now conceivable that Luck can win the award.
He’s had plenty of special moments along they way.
Luck has thrown for 2,740 yards on the season with 24 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. The Cardinal have lost just once, a 52-31 decision at Oregon. In that game Stanford led the Ducks 21-3 but could not slow down the top-ranked team’s high-flying offense.
One wonders if they met again would things be different.
No team is playing better than Stanford (10-1, 7-1 Pac-1) right now. It has won six straight games and ranks eighth in the nation in scoring offense. Stanford’s pro-style passing attack and power running has also gotten a major boost from speedy back Stepfan Taylor who has rushed for 18 touchdowns and 907 yards.
Oregon State defeated USC last week to stay in the bowl picture.
The Beavers, who looked like they were counting the days until the season was over, blew out the Trojans 36-7 at Corvallis, Ore.
Quarterback Ryan Katz threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns and Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 128 yards and another score for the Beavers (5-5, 4-3 Pac-10), who avoided their first three-game losing streak since 2002.
The Beavers (5-5, 4-3) knocked out USC quarterback Matt Barkley just before halftime and cruised to the win its second game in three years against USC. The last time Oregon State beat USC it ended the Trojans’ national title hopes in 2008.
Oregon State suffered stunning losses to UCLA and Washington State earlier in the month which put its bowl hopes on life support. Now the Beavers need a win here or against top-ranked Oregon in the season finale to play in the postseason.