No. 18 Stanford (6-2, 5-1 Pac-12, CFP No. 21) at No. 25 Washington State (7-2, 4-2, CFP No. 25), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
Line: Washington State by 2 ½.
Series record: Stanford leads 40-26-1
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Both teams are in the hunt for the Pac-12 North championship, and need a victory to keep pace.
KEY MATCHUP
Washington State’s suddenly shaky offense versus a Stanford defense that has given up just 41 points in its past three Pac-12 games.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Stanford: RB Bryce Love sat out last week’s squeaker victory over Oregon State with an ankle injury, but remains the nation’s leading rusher with 1,387 yards this season. He averages 198 yards per game, and his participation will be a game-time decision.
Washington State: QB Luke Falk was pulled last weekend against Arizona after the offense sputtered, but he remains the heart of the Air Raid offense and will start. Backup Tyler Hilinski threw for more than 500 yards last weekend, but his four interceptions helped Arizona win.
FACTS & FIGURES
With Love on the bench last week, Stanford produced just 222 yards of total offense in a narrow victory over cellar-dweller Oregon State … Last year, Falk threw for 357 yards and four touchdowns in a victory over the Cardinal … Stanford coach David Shaw is 5-1 against Washington State … Shaw has 70 career wins, one shy of matching the school record set by Glenn “Pop” Warner from 1924-32 … Washington State is 6-0 at home this season … WSU’s Hercules Mata’afa, one of 18 semifinalists for the Bednarik award given to the nation’s best defensive player, has 39.5 tackles for loss in his career.
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