[JohnR34231]

First, I hope I am wrong about my prediction.  Stanford should regain the Axe, and there should be tumultuous scenes of celebration with cardinal-and-white-clad players and students rejoicing on the field.  We move to 4-7 and prepare for BYU.  

But, frankly, I have lost all faith in this team to win -- yes, even against a dumpster-fire program like Cal that just lost two key coaches on the offensive side of the ball.  The ability to win fled this program during the first quarter of the Wazzu game.  We close the season at 3-9 as in 2021.  

To be more specific, here is how I see the flow of the game.  In a low-scoring affair, we go up 10-3 against the Bears, but give up a late TD in the second quarter and go to the locker rooms tied at 10 apiece.  Karty gets a 3rd quarter FG to put us up 13-10.  At this point, our offense sputters, while our defense valiantly keeps Cal from scoring until their last drive, when the Bears go up 17-13 with less than a minute remaining.  McKee is then sacked on four successive plays on Stanford's final possession.  Shades of 2019, though each team managed an additional TD 3 years ago to make the final score 24-20 Bears.  

Any other takes?

Yep, I more or less agree with you. That Wazzu blowout was the last straw for me, also.
I could easily see this game coming down to the late fourth quarter, with the defense and/or the offense having a chance to win the game for us and not being able to do it. Sort of like the Wazzu or the Washington game last year.

[JohnR34231]

First, I hope I am wrong about my prediction.  Stanford should regain the Axe, and there should be tumultuous scenes of celebration with cardinal-and-white-clad players and students rejoicing on the field.  We move to 4-7 and prepare for BYU.  

But, frankly, I have lost all faith in this team to win -- yes, even against a dumpster-fire program like Cal that just lost two key coaches on the offensive side of the ball.  The ability to win fled this program during the first quarter of the Wazzu game.  We close the season at 3-9 as in 2021.  

To be more specific, here is how I see the flow of the game.  In a low-scoring affair, we go up 10-3 against the Bears, but give up a late TD in the second quarter and go to the locker rooms tied at 10 apiece.  Karty gets a 3rd quarter FG to put us up 13-10.  At this point, our offense sputters, while our defense valiantly keeps Cal from scoring until their last drive, when the Bears go up 17-13 with less than a minute remaining.  McKee is then sacked on four successive plays on Stanford's final possession.  Shades of 2019, though each team managed an additional TD 3 years ago to make the final score 24-20 Bears.  

Any other takes?

Yep, I more or less agree with you. That Wazzu blowout was the last straw for me, also.
I could easily see this game coming down to the late fourth quarter, with the defense and/or the offense having a chance to win the game for us and not being able to do it. Sort of like the Wazzu or the Washington game last year.