10-22-2012, 09:08 AM
Go 9-3 and the team enters bowl season in the top 10, for sure. A lot of the top 15 teams will finally start to play other ranked teams. At the end of the year, good 3 loss teams are normally in that 10-15 range. Stanford would have one weak road loss, and two road losses to top 10 teams. Forget what we know about the team, that profile normally finishes in the top 10.
It is true that Stanford does not have a top 20 QB, but Stanford has a top 4 or 5 defense. Teams with a mediocre QB and an amazing defense (see LSU 2011) can go far. So even with what we know it is not unreasonable to believe that a top 10 finish with 3 losses is possible.
FWIW - If Stanford goes 8-4 then the result is top 20.
It does not really matter though where Stanford finishes. Stanford can win the Pac-12 and go to the Rose Bowl. Otherwise, even with a top 10 BCS finish, Stanford is Alamo, Holiday or Sun Bowl bound.
The combination of Notre Dame, USC and Oregon will get at least 2 BCS bowl invites, maybe 3. If those 3 teams consume 2 or more at-large bids then there is nothing in the BCS for Stanford. With a loss to Oregon, Stanford is fighting for that 3rd slot in the conference and the poll positions are not really a part of that 3rd slot battle.
It is true that Stanford does not have a top 20 QB, but Stanford has a top 4 or 5 defense. Teams with a mediocre QB and an amazing defense (see LSU 2011) can go far. So even with what we know it is not unreasonable to believe that a top 10 finish with 3 losses is possible.
FWIW - If Stanford goes 8-4 then the result is top 20.
It does not really matter though where Stanford finishes. Stanford can win the Pac-12 and go to the Rose Bowl. Otherwise, even with a top 10 BCS finish, Stanford is Alamo, Holiday or Sun Bowl bound.
The combination of Notre Dame, USC and Oregon will get at least 2 BCS bowl invites, maybe 3. If those 3 teams consume 2 or more at-large bids then there is nothing in the BCS for Stanford. With a loss to Oregon, Stanford is fighting for that 3rd slot in the conference and the poll positions are not really a part of that 3rd slot battle.