[SkiBum80]

I just finished watching the Vanderbilt-UH game and although I pick Stanford to win 49-21, Hawaii is SCARY, and I'd give them a good 30% chance to win the game outright. They have a poised, 3rd year quarterback with 14 starts. We will have a fresh quarterback taking his first game snap. Heck, we don't even know who that quarterback is. 

They run a Run 'n' Shoot which is exactly the kind of offense that used to give Stanford fits, with a quarterback in shotgun, who can run, with 4-5 receivers spreading out the field. Not only have offenses like this (the Air Raid) been a Kryptonite for Stanford in the past, it's an even more nightmarish matchup this year because our secondary is so green. Now we have to cover 5 receivers (though thankfully, so far, only 2 merit special attention. Thank you for the game tape, Vandy!) The were *supposed* to have a 2 headed monster running game but their 1 headed monster is plenty, he is a fast, downhill, runner, which is also the type Stanford would have difficulty with in the past. Let's hope all those legendary Coach Taylor reps include a lot of tackling.

Stanford has a size advantage, a length advantage, a speed advantage, and a specialty teams advantage. Vandy returned a kickoff 97 yards to the house. 

If Stanford plays sloppy, if the QB plays like a noob, if the green line lets the UH pass rush befuddle them, Hawaii can neutralize the Stanford offense's advantages. If Stanford's speedy pass rushers can't apply pressure, if the run defense can't stop an explosive back who runs hard, if the secondary can't cover the 4-5 receivers, it's going to be a nightmare of a game, and Hawaii could win 28-14.

But assuming Coach Taylor has gotten the team ready, having watched tape of old Sac State offenses, even in game 1, there should be enough juice to throw Hawaii's defense off-balance, and Stanford's O has enough athleticism and size to shock them. Stanford also has enough speed -- though inexperienced -- on defense to put Schager on his back many times, and force him into some bad, falling duck passes. And assuming specialty teams has a plan, they should be able to account for a +7 to +21 point differential (really!)

So if Stanford can actually play a crisp first game, which they haven't in I can't remember how long, they should win big, 49-21.

So basically we could win 49-21 ("We're back!"), or lose 28-14 (a slow motion train wreck), or anything in between?
Actually, that sounds about right to me, due to the massive uncertainty of our all new coaches, new schemes, extreme personnel turnover, inexperienced players, no clear depth chart, possibly already injured players, etc.

[SkiBum80]

I just finished watching the Vanderbilt-UH game and although I pick Stanford to win 49-21, Hawaii is SCARY, and I'd give them a good 30% chance to win the game outright. They have a poised, 3rd year quarterback with 14 starts. We will have a fresh quarterback taking his first game snap. Heck, we don't even know who that quarterback is. 

They run a Run 'n' Shoot which is exactly the kind of offense that used to give Stanford fits, with a quarterback in shotgun, who can run, with 4-5 receivers spreading out the field. Not only have offenses like this (the Air Raid) been a Kryptonite for Stanford in the past, it's an even more nightmarish matchup this year because our secondary is so green. Now we have to cover 5 receivers (though thankfully, so far, only 2 merit special attention. Thank you for the game tape, Vandy!) The were *supposed* to have a 2 headed monster running game but their 1 headed monster is plenty, he is a fast, downhill, runner, which is also the type Stanford would have difficulty with in the past. Let's hope all those legendary Coach Taylor reps include a lot of tackling.

Stanford has a size advantage, a length advantage, a speed advantage, and a specialty teams advantage. Vandy returned a kickoff 97 yards to the house. 

If Stanford plays sloppy, if the QB plays like a noob, if the green line lets the UH pass rush befuddle them, Hawaii can neutralize the Stanford offense's advantages. If Stanford's speedy pass rushers can't apply pressure, if the run defense can't stop an explosive back who runs hard, if the secondary can't cover the 4-5 receivers, it's going to be a nightmare of a game, and Hawaii could win 28-14.

But assuming Coach Taylor has gotten the team ready, having watched tape of old Sac State offenses, even in game 1, there should be enough juice to throw Hawaii's defense off-balance, and Stanford's O has enough athleticism and size to shock them. Stanford also has enough speed -- though inexperienced -- on defense to put Schager on his back many times, and force him into some bad, falling duck passes. And assuming specialty teams has a plan, they should be able to account for a +7 to +21 point differential (really!)

So if Stanford can actually play a crisp first game, which they haven't in I can't remember how long, they should win big, 49-21.

So basically we could win 49-21 ("We're back!"), or lose 28-14 (a slow motion train wreck), or anything in between?
Actually, that sounds about right to me, due to the massive uncertainty of our all new coaches, new schemes, extreme personnel turnover, inexperienced players, no clear depth chart, possibly already injured players, etc.