Yes Stanford is the poster child of what happens when a team is completely built on defense. But they are perhaps the most dominant defense in the Power 5 and they face a Utah team clearly trending downwards.

They outscore teams 32.4 to 8.8 at home. Defensively they hold teams normally getting 4.4 yards per rushing attempt to 3.1 and teams getting 7.6 yards per pass attempt to a mere 5.2. At home the numbers are 2.5 and 4.5.

The Utes hopes of winning the Pac-12 South have all but disappeared over the last two weeks thanks to losses to Arizona State and Oregon, so this is a tough spot. The pure stupidity of Kaelin Clay may send this team spiraling.

Co starting QB Kendal Thompson the teams second leading rusher is out for Utah. Four news starters on the offensive line, all new running backs and all new tight ends, Stanford does what young teams do: they play better at home and as the year goes on. It is a great spot all around for the Cardinal.