The Cardinal are coming out of their bye week hungry to get back into the win column in Durham.
Coming off of a bye week, the Stanford Cardinal are back in action this weekend when they hit the road to face Duke, the reigning ACC champion. A matchup like this is never easy, but for a Stanford program that ushered in a new era over the offseason, it will provide a chance to make a statement.
No wins come easy, especially on the road, but through two games, new head coach Tavita Pritchard has learned a lot about his Cardinal program and is determined to see everything come together.
Duke, on the other hand, still has a new-look roster of its own despite last season's success and is hopeful that this year's team can make the College Football Playoff.
Stanford has not posted a winning season since 2018, and while confidence is high, the program still has a lot to prove to its doubters. This is the week to turn some heads and get people fully bought into the new culture and standards set on The Farm.
The Cardinal are heavy underdogs against the Blue Devils, but that does not mean that this will be a lopsided game. Here is everything you need to know leading up to Stanford's matchup against Duke.
Game Information
When: Saturday, Sep. 19, 1:00 p.m. (PT)
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, NC
How to Watch: The CW
Spread: Duke (-10)
Moneyline: Stanford (+320), Duke (-410)
Total: O/U 50.5
*Betting odds provided by Vegas Insider and are used here as a reference point, not betting advice*
Players to Watch - Stanford
WR Caden High
High missed Stanford's opening game against Hawai'i due to an injury, but quickly returned for the Miami game and did not waste time making his presence known. Catching six passes for 92 yards, he proved himself a key piece of the passing game.
With experience in Stanford's offense, look for him to become an integral part for the rest of the season. A big game against Duke will be critical if the offense wants to make a statement. Stanford will also be getting Nico Brown back for his own season debut in this one, giving High another experienced receiver to run with.
DB Leroy Bryant
Bryant was Stanford's headlining transfer portal pickup for the defense, and he has already taken on a big role. So far, he has eight total tackles and two passes defended, but has yet to record an interception.
Duke is a very pass-heavy team and will surely look to test Bryant early on. This is the type of game where Bryant can break out and prove himself as a top player on Stanford's defense.
RB Micah Ford
Ford has gotten the lion's share of the carries to start the season, leading Stanford running backs in both attempts and yards through the first two games. But while he had a dominant game against Hawai'i, rushing for 99 yards and three touchdowns, the game against Miami was a tough one.
Ford only managed 27 yards in 11 carries, which forced Stanford's offense to play one-dimensionally. Against Duke, Ford needs to return to dominance in order for the offense to open up and make noise against a good Blue Devils defense.
Players to Watch - Duke
QB Walker Eget
Eget is one of the most experienced players in college football, in his fifth season and first with Duke. The Cardinal know him from his time at San José State, where he was the starting quarterback last season for the Spartans when the Cardinal beat them 30-29 in a nail-biting showdown.
Eget has more weapons surrounding him this season though, coming off of a three-touchdown game in a win over Illinois. Duke will test the Cardinal's defense early and will most likely utilize their passing attack strategically, while letting the running game open up those passing lanes.
RB Nate Sheppard
Sheppard's freshman season at Duke was a memorable one, with him rushing for over 1,200 yards and earning second-team All-ACC honors. This season, he has wasted no time building off his strong performance from a season ago, rushing for 227 yards in Week 1 followed by a 24-carry, 147-yard performance last week against Illinois.
Duke passes a lot, but they are not afraid to ride the running game if it gets hot. If the Cardinal can't stop the run, it will be a long day for Stanford on both fronts.
DB Andrew Pellicciotta
Pellicciotta had a quiet Week 1, but he wiped that away with a stat sheet last week against Illinois that included 11 tackles.
At safety, he is also very good at playing the run and lining up closer to the line of scrimmage if needed. For Stanford, the key will be running plays away from him.
Score Prediction
Duke 34, Stanford 27
The Cardinal predictably struggled against Miami, last year's national runner-up. But Duke is a more favorable matchup, even on the road. Finishing 9-5 and winning the ACC last season, Duke still experienced a lot of turnover going into this season, most notably seeing star quarterback Darian Mensah depart for Miami.
So this season, Duke and Stanford are in very similar boats in terms of new-look rosters. But despite that, hitting the road to face them after a brutal loss to Miami will not be easy for Stanford, and for a program still trying to find its identity, beating a program like Duke coming off of the successful season they had will be tough.
The one key for the Cardinal is that they've had an extra week to prepare for this matchup, but that may not be enough to get them the upset.
