The Cardinal are a disciplined, talented team with an experienced coach and leader. Ultimately, that should win out over a young Ducks team that does have some continuity but is still learning under a new head coach. Stanford has already picked up a couple impressive wins on the season, and it may ultimately be the class of the Pac-12 when all is said and done.

Grab Stanford out in the Pac-12 in a line that opened too low for the Cardinal as road favorites.

Both of these teams are off to 3-0 starts to the season, but one of those 3-0 starts has been more impressive than the other. Stanford has picked up a 21-point win over San Diego State (which beat Arizona State last week) and a 14-point win over USC. Oregon, meanwhile, has beaten Bowling Green, San Jose State and Portland State. Those three are a combined 2-7 on the season. So, even with this game at Autzen Stadium, I can't trust this Ducks team against somebody as good as Stanford just yet.

Conventional thought suggests that a good defense trumps a good offense. This is true, especially when you're talking about Pac-12 football. Oregon QB Justin Herbert has been excellent so far, while K.J. Costello for Stanford has been up-and-down, showing a propensity to turn the ball over. As good as Bryce Love is for the Cardinal, there's always a chance that he could miss a series or two because of injury concerns. There are too many questions for the Cardinal to believe in them in this game. Oregon plays the same frenetic speed all game long, and has the advantage at the most important position.