Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Following two consecutive seasons ending their season in the Rose Bowl with at least 11 victories, a seven win Stanford Cardinal team will play in the Foster Farms Bowl in nearby Levi’s Stadium against the Maryland Terrapins Tuesday night. Despite playing close to home, the Cardinal have had a down year and are playing in a lesser bowl game, and if they hope to emerge victorious, they are going to have to play with intensity on the defensive side of the ball and avoid a letdown.
While the Cardinal struggled to a 7-5 record this season, they had perhaps their best defense in school history. They finished the regular season 11th in the FBS in rushing defense, seventh in passing defense, fifth in total defense and second to only the Ole Miss Rebels in allowing just 16.0 points per game. What makes this feat even more impressive is that Stanford plays in the Pac-12, which has five of the top 25 total offenses in the nation.
If the Cardinal hope to win, they need to continue to play stout defense and get after quarterback C.J. Brown and force mistakes. The Terrapins are 98th in the nation having given up 31 sacks this season, while on defense the Cardinal are seventh with 40 sacks.
However, despite their impressive defensive numbers, the Cardinal are still minus-5 in turnover margin so far this season. If they hope to win this contest and end a tough season on a positive note, they will need to win the turnover battle against the Terrapins. If they can do this, it will give their struggling offense more possessions against the Terrapins and will help to propel them to a victory in a low-scoring affair.
Phillip Jacques is a Pac-12 Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
