COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: STANFORD CARDINAL AT USC TROJANS

Stanford is out for a little revenge of the nerds against longtime Pac-10 bullies USC in a monumental game for both programs. 

USC seeks to avoid having this season labeled an unmitigated disaster, which is precisely what they’ll be facing with a loss here.

Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh’s hungry and talented Stanford bunch is looking to turn a major corner and step into the limelight.

A game like this can have huge impact, not only on the Pac-10 race for this season, but in terms of future recruiting. Seriously, it’s a big game.

Stanford is soaring with confidence after their dominant performance against Oregon and with RB Toby Gerhart currently barreling through defenses like a downhill Zamboni there’s no reason not to think they can’t move the ball against the struggling Trojan defense.

On the other hand, USC RB Joe McKnight could run wild against a Stanford defense that does not match up well against his speed.

The drama will only be heightened by the conspicuous lack of fondness between Harbaugh and USC coach Pete Carroll.

In last year’s game, Stanford lined up for a meaningless field goal trailing 45-17 with three seconds left. After Carroll called a wise-ass timeout to ice the kicker, Harbaugh was sufficiently annoyed that he sent his offense back on the field and scored a TD, thereby covering the point spread and allowing the Cardinal to run off the field on a positive note.

What would be even sweeter this time around would be for Harbaugh and company to actually find a way to win the game.

And they just might.

Before we bury the Trojans though lets not forget they still have a little mystique left to draw upon. Pete Carroll is famously 28-0 in November and his team has lost a grand total of one home game since 2001. Stanford has struggled on the road this year, with their only win coming against lowly Washington State.

Look for USC to prevail in a wild one, but we like Stanford to put up a good fight. 

PICK: STANFORD +10.5