Arizona Wildcats vs Stanford Cardinal Point Spread Picks

Arizona's defense has improved a lot. They've allowed 3 and 10 points in their two victories and held Mississippi State to 307 total yards (3-of-11 on third down) in an overtime loss on the road. All three of their games have gone UNDER the total, part of a 6-1 run UNDER. Stanford doesn't have much of an offense with sophomore QBs Ashton Daniels and Justin Lamson combining for 3 TDs and 3 interceptions. They were a touchdown favorite last week against Sacramento State but lost, 30-23, as the offense turned it over twice. It was Stanford's second loss ever to an FCS-level school. College football teams like Stanford that have lost two of three in the first month of the season are 78-36 UNDER when the total is between 56.5 and 63. Take Arizona/Stanford UNDER the total.

The Stanford Cardinal have Christian McCaffrey in the backfield, and one would think they would be running over teams. That has not been the case behind a rebuit offensive line. While McCaffrey has been hurt for a lot of the season, the Cardinal ground attack has managed just four yards per carry vs. a schedule of opponents that have combined to allow 3.9. That is unusually ordinary. The passing attack has not been any better, and the saving grace for the Cardinal is your per-usual stout defense. The result is five of Stanford's seven opponents have scored 13 or fewer points. Arizona put up 47 points vs. Hawaii and 31 vs. Grambling, but against their five major opponents, they have struggled to an average of just 21.8 points per game. They have topped off at 28, and will be hard pressed to get to their average vs. Stanford. I don't see a lot of scoring or scoring opportunities, so go with the UNDER.

Arizona got its clock cleaned at home last week by UCLA and now heads out on the road. Making matters worse for the offense is that QB Anu Solomon is day-to-day after suffering a concussion against UCLA. Backup QB Jerrard Randall took over against the Bruins and was just 4-of-16 for 45 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Arizona is on a 5-2 run UNDER the total on the road, as well as 5-2 UNDER in Pac-12 contests. They face another great Stanford defense, a team on an 18-7 run UNDER the total. Stanford prefers to run the football on offense, which eats up yards and the clock, and they have signal caller concerns for this one as QB Kevin Hogan (sprained left ankle) left Saturday's game in a walking boot. Stanford is 13-5 UNDER the total in Pac 12 games, including 6-2 UNDER at home. Stanford has been a dominant defensive squad at home, limiting its last eight opponents to an average of 223.9 yards of offense dating to its final home game of 2013 against Notre Dame. They allowed seven points in their only 2015 home game and the Cardinal is 9-3 UNDER the total on natural grass. This one finishes UNDER.