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Stanford odds to win the NCAA National Championship 2015 were at 65-1.
Stanford has won at least 11 games in their last four seasons. Oddsmakers are not very high on the Cardinal this season, giving them a price of -130 to win OVER 8.5 regular season games. Much of that has to do with the Cardinal facing five very solid teams on the road.
Athlon Sports notes that "the Cardinal have produced one of the top pressure defenses in the country the last few years with their 3-4 scheme. And despite personnel losses like Shayne Skov, Trent Murphy, Ben Gardner and Ed Reynolds, this group should be no exception."
Quarterback Kevin Hogan tossed 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.
Athlon also doesn’t see a problem with losing four starters on the offense.
“Considering Stanford loses four starters on its offensive line, it seems strange to say the front five will be a strength for this team. However, take a look at the returning talent. Left tackle Andrus Peat should be an All-American in 2014, and he will be joined by experienced and talented players like Joshua Garnett, Kyle Murphy, Graham Shuler and Johnny Caspers. It may take a game or two for this unit to mesh, but expect Stanford to have one of the top offensive lines in the nation.”
Stanford coach David Shaw concurs, saying this group “could be as talented as we’ve ever had".
Shayne Skov and Trent Murphy and gone and together they combined for 20.5 sacks last year, or half of all the Cardinals sacks.
- Mary Montgomery, Gambling911.com
