Welcome to the Hotline’s predictions for each Pac-12 game of the 2022 season. The 12-part series will be published in six installments, with teams grouped by travel partners. Links to prior articles at bottom …
Stanford Cardinal
Coach: David Shaw (12th season)
Offensive coordinator: Tavita Pritchard (fifth season)
Defensive coordinator: Lance Anderson (ninth season)
2021 record: 3-9/2-7
Stanford’s five-year win totals: 10-9-9-4-3 (2020 season excluded)
Last postseason appearance: 2018 Sun Bowl (beat Pittsburgh)
Best-case 2022 scenario: 7-5
Worst-case 2022 scenario: 3-9
Projected starting quarterback: Tanner McKee
Key question: Will Stanford regain its edge at the line of scrimmage after a disappointing ’21 season in which it couldn’t run the ball or stop the run?
Here we go …
Sept. 3: vs. Colgate
Result: win
Record: 1-0
Comment: Stanford’s first game against a non-Power Five opponent since it lost to UCF three years ago. Think about that.
Sept. 10: vs. USC
Result: loss
Record: 1-1/0-1
Comment: Since this rivalry was moved to Week Two on a permanent basis back in 2016, one team or the other has won by at least two touchdowns. Feels like this one will be tight.
Sept. 17: idle
Comment: Stanford is the only team in the conference that doesn’t have a bye in October. This placement requires the Cardinal to play 10 consecutive weeks. Yikes.
Sept. 24: at Washington
Result: win
Record: 2-1/1-1
Comment: An upset based largely on circumstances: While the Cardinal should be rested and reasonably healthy, the Huskies will be coming off a slugfest against Michigan State.
Oct. 1: at Oregon
Result: loss
Record: 2-2/1-2
Comment: In a series defined by the unexplained and unpredictable, here’s a by-the-book meeting. And the book says the Ducks should win by double digits.
Oct. 8: vs. Oregon State
Result: loss
Record: 2-3/1-3
Comment: Not sure this qualifies as a trap, because the Cardinal won’t be in position to overlook anyone. Instead, itap simply a game Stanford must win to make the bowl math work. And, well …
Oct. 15: at Notre Dame
Result: loss
Record: 2-4/1-3
Comment: The Cardinal owned the line of scrimmage, and this series, for many years. But lately, control up front has shifted — as have the results. The past three are all Irish blowouts: 38-17, 45-24 and 45-14. This could be similar.
Oct. 22: vs. Arizona State
Result: win
Record: 3-4/2-3
Comment: The Sun Devils will be fresh off a bye, the Cardinal anything but rested. From nowhere, Stanford musters its best performance of the season.
Oct. 29: at UCLA
Result: loss
Record: 3-5/2-4
Comment: We have already penciled in UCLA tailback Zach Charbonnet for 150 rushing yards. In the first half.
Nov. 5: vs. Washington State
Result: loss
Record: 3-6/2-5
Comment: The grind resulting from the early bye takes hold, with injuries mounting and no respite available. WSU has two extra days to prepare — and takes full advantage.
Nov. 12: at Utah
Result: loss
Record: 3-7/2-6
Comment: We feel confident predicting the Utes won’t match last year’s total of 441 rushing yards. But they very well could get to 440.
No. 19: at Cal
Result: loss
Record: 3-8/2-7
Comment: Stanford hasn’t lost back-to-back Big Games since the 2008-09 seasons, and it hasn’t posted back-to-back losing seasons since 2007-08. So this could be a fall of new lows for the Shaw era.
Nov. 26: vs. Brigham Young
Result: win
Record: 4-8/2-7
Comment: In the final home game for McKee, Stanford catches the Cougars in a letdown situation following their victory over Utah Tech.
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