[CardinalSagehen]

Yes, absolutely.  Stanford is going to be so weak that teams will be able to play their second string most of the game just to get those players some experience.  Opponents don't need to scheme on defense because Stanford cannot run the ball and has no proven receivers to catch the ball.  Besides, Costello will not be able to throw the ball because Stanford has no offensive line to block for him.  It will be sack city.  On top of that, Stanford cannot stop the run, so teams need not worry about preparing a game plan on offense.  Just run, run, run, TD.  JUST USE THE STANFORD WEEK TO GIVE YOUR PLAYERS SOME NEEDED R&R.

Brilliant! I don't know if it's Shaw's style, but there's plenty of bulletin board material to work with this season.

We can no longer just give the Cardinal the benefit of the doubt.  -- Ben Kercheval

I beg to differ. Until we fail to win 9 games, people should, in fact, just give the Cardinal the benefit of the doubt.  It's rational.

We still have a roster with talent rated in the top 25, a consistent program, and a strong, steady leader that doesn't let us beat ourselves.  It's not like we're being ranked in the top 10, either - we're at #25. With just 8 wins, which I admit will be very difficult to achieve against our schedule, we'd probably deserve that kind of ranking (and not get it.)  

Anyone calling us overrated is comparing us to outdated expectations that nobody seems to have this year, or they're rating us based on crude absolutes like the projected number of losses.  Are we overrated vs. the Vegas expectation of 6.5 wins?  I don't think so.

[CardinalSagehen]

Yes, absolutely.  Stanford is going to be so weak that teams will be able to play their second string most of the game just to get those players some experience.  Opponents don't need to scheme on defense because Stanford cannot run the ball and has no proven receivers to catch the ball.  Besides, Costello will not be able to throw the ball because Stanford has no offensive line to block for him.  It will be sack city.  On top of that, Stanford cannot stop the run, so teams need not worry about preparing a game plan on offense.  Just run, run, run, TD.  JUST USE THE STANFORD WEEK TO GIVE YOUR PLAYERS SOME NEEDED R&R.

Brilliant! I don't know if it's Shaw's style, but there's plenty of bulletin board material to work with this season.

We can no longer just give the Cardinal the benefit of the doubt.  -- Ben Kercheval

I beg to differ. Until we fail to win 9 games, people should, in fact, just give the Cardinal the benefit of the doubt.  It's rational.

We still have a roster with talent rated in the top 25, a consistent program, and a strong, steady leader that doesn't let us beat ourselves.  It's not like we're being ranked in the top 10, either - we're at #25. With just 8 wins, which I admit will be very difficult to achieve against our schedule, we'd probably deserve that kind of ranking (and not get it.)  

Anyone calling us overrated is comparing us to outdated expectations that nobody seems to have this year, or they're rating us based on crude absolutes like the projected number of losses.  Are we overrated vs. the Vegas expectation of 6.5 wins?  I don't think so.