[Spiny_Norman]

It is still ridiculously premature to speculate on poll position, national championship game, etc. 

Stanford has played 7 games.  There are still 6 or 7 games remaining, depending on whether Stanford plays in the conference championship game.  So we are only halfway through the season.  Anything can happen during any given week, both to Stanford and to the other teams that are in the top 10.  Last week the SI writers who cover college football predicted the teams in the NC game and other BCS games.  8 out of 8 chose OU.  8 out of 8 predicted Wisconsin to win the Big 10 and play in the Rose Bowl.  8 of 8 had West Virginia winning the Big East.  Those predictions still might come true, but my point is that it is a pointless exercise to speculate on end results with so many games to be played.  Too many variables.

Stanford has a big challenge this Saturday.  USC's defense played Stanford as tough as anyone last year and they are coming off their best effort of the year, holding ND to 41 yards rushing and only 267 total yards.  The game is likely to be as close as any Stanford has played since last year's USC game.

You might find it instructive (as I did) to review all of Stanford's offense vs. USC's defense from 2010 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42-ss51hxW8

[Spiny_Norman]

It is still ridiculously premature to speculate on poll position, national championship game, etc. 

Stanford has played 7 games.  There are still 6 or 7 games remaining, depending on whether Stanford plays in the conference championship game.  So we are only halfway through the season.  Anything can happen during any given week, both to Stanford and to the other teams that are in the top 10.  Last week the SI writers who cover college football predicted the teams in the NC game and other BCS games.  8 out of 8 chose OU.  8 out of 8 predicted Wisconsin to win the Big 10 and play in the Rose Bowl.  8 of 8 had West Virginia winning the Big East.  Those predictions still might come true, but my point is that it is a pointless exercise to speculate on end results with so many games to be played.  Too many variables.

Stanford has a big challenge this Saturday.  USC's defense played Stanford as tough as anyone last year and they are coming off their best effort of the year, holding ND to 41 yards rushing and only 267 total yards.  The game is likely to be as close as any Stanford has played since last year's USC game.

You might find it instructive (as I did) to review all of Stanford's offense vs. USC's defense from 2010 -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42-ss51hxW8