SB Nation Bay Area - Stanford vs. UCLA: Pac-12 North title hangs in the balance for the Cardinalhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2012-11-26T05:03:42-08:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/34421952012-11-26T05:03:42-08:002012-11-26T05:03:42-08:00Stanford secures best conference record in Pac-12
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>The Stanford Cardinal will be heading to the Pac-12 Championship with the team owning the best conference record in the Pac-12.</p> <p>The Stanford Cardinal are heading to the Pac-12 Championship game this Friday after their 35-17 win over UCLA secured them the North's bid.</p>
<p>Stanford and Oregon finished tied for the best conference record at 8-1 but since the Cardinal defeated the Ducks, 17-14, in overtime two weeks ago, they own the tiebreaker.</p>
<p>The Pac-12 Championship will be a rematch of Stanford's previous game against UCLA as the Bruins clinched the South before Saturday's game was even played. This go around though, the Cardinal will have the luxury of home field advantage. </p>
<p>As for the other Bay Area school, the Cal Golden Bears were off this past week but finished their season in second to last place in the North. The Golden Bears finished out 2012 on a five game slide which ultimately cost head coach Jeff Tedford his job. To his credit, Cal's two conference wins were pretty dominating as they upset UCLA 43-17 and handled Washington State 31-17. </p>
<p>Below are the complete Pac-12 standings entering the conference championship game: </p>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget conference_standings clearfix">
<h3>Pacific-12 Conference Standings</h3>
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<p class="updated">(updated 11.24.2012 at 12:42 AM MST)</p>
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<table cellspacing="0" class="standings zebra sbn-pte-table">
<thead class="super-head"><tr>
<th>North</th> <th colspan="2">Conf</th> <th colspan="2">Overall</th>
</tr></thead>
<thead><tr>
<th></th> <th>W</th> <th>L</th> <th>W</th> <th>L</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oregon-ducks">Oregon Ducks</a></td>
<td>7</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>10</td>
<td class="td-last">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a></td>
<td>7</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>9</td>
<td class="td-last">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oregon-st-beavers">Oregon St. Beavers</a></td>
<td>6</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>8</td>
<td class="td-last">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>7</td>
<td class="td-last">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/california-golden-bears">California Golden Bears</a></td>
<td>2</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>3</td>
<td class="td-last">9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-st-cougars">Washington St. Cougars</a></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>3</td>
<td class="td-last">9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<table cellspacing="0" class="standings zebra sbn-pte-table">
<thead class="super-head"><tr>
<th>South</th> <th colspan="2">Conf</th> <th colspan="2">Overall</th>
</tr></thead>
<thead><tr>
<th></th> <th>W</th> <th>L</th> <th>W</th> <th>L</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a></td>
<td>6</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>9</td>
<td class="td-last">2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/usc-trojans">USC Trojans</a></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>7</td>
<td class="td-last">4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-st-sun-devils">Arizona St. Sun Devils</a></td>
<td>5</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>7</td>
<td class="td-last">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arizona-wildcats">Arizona Wildcats</a></td>
<td>4</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>7</td>
<td class="td-last">5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes">Utah Utes</a></td>
<td>3</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>5</td>
<td class="td-last">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/colorado-buffaloes">Colorado Buffaloes</a></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>1</td>
<td class="td-last">11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/stanford-ncaaf/2012/11/26/3691340/pac-12-football-2012-standingsCody Ulm2012-11-24T17:19:01-08:002012-11-24T17:19:01-08:00Taylor running wild, Stanford up 21-10 at halftime
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes</figcaption>
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<p>The Cardinal is two quarters away from winning the Pac-12 North division.</p> <p>At halftime in the Rose Bowl, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal" class="sbn-auto-link">Stanford Cardinal</a> lead the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins" class="sbn-auto-link">UCLA Bruins</a>, 21-10, on Saturday night in Pasadena.</p>
<p>Cardinal running back <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77863/stepfan-taylor" class="sbn-auto-link">Stepfan Taylor</a> hit the 100-yard mark on the head by halftime, rushing 16 times for a 6.3 yards-per-carry average. Taylor broke the game open with a 49-yard touchdown scamper to give Stanford a 21-7 lead in the second quarter.</p>
<p>Kevin Hogan is 11-16 for 115 yards and one touchdown through the air. That came less than five minutes into the contest when Hogan hit <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77850/drew-terrell" class="sbn-auto-link">Drew Terrell</a> for an 11-yard score. Tight end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77878/zach-ertz" class="sbn-auto-link">Zach Ertz</a> remains the go-to target through the air, pulling in three catches for 52 yards in the half.</p>
<p>UCLA did make a big play late in the half by blocking its sixth kick in the last two games on a Stanford punt. But the Bruins moved backwards eight yards on their series and had to settle for a 48-yard field goal from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162620/ka-imi-fairbairn" class="sbn-auto-link">Ka'imi Fairbairn</a>.</p>
<p>If the result holds, the two teams will play again in the Pac-12 championship game.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/stanford-ncaaf/2012/11/24/3686990/stanford-ucla-game-score-stepfan-taylorBrett Hein2012-11-22T04:01:18-08:002012-11-22T04:01:18-08:00Stanford's Terrence Stephens to miss UCLA game
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes</figcaption>
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<p>Stanford will be without defensive tackle Terrence Stephens against UCLA as he tends to a personal matter.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a> are playing for a berth in the Pac-12 Championship game this weekend, but they will have to face UCLA without senior defensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77881/terrence-stephens">Terrence Stephens</a>. Stanford confirmed reports that Stephens will miss Saturday's game as he tends to a personal matter, <a href="http://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/11/21/football-defensive-tackle-terrence-stephens-out-against-ucla-with-personal-matter/" target="_blank">according to a report from The Stanford Daily</a>.</p>
<p>Stephens, who has started seven games this season, is one of the main cogs along a stout Stanford defensive line. The Cardinal are currently second in the country in rush defense, allowing just 71.3 rushing yards per game. Stephens absence could be a big loss for Stanford as the Cardinal face the Pac-12's second-leading rusher <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38186/johnathan-franklin">Johnathan Franklin</a>. Franklin has rushed for 1,441 yards this season while averaging 6.3 yards per attempt.</p>
<p>If the Cardinal knock off the Bruins, or the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oregon-ducks">Oregon Ducks</a> lose to Oregon State, Stanford will host UCLA in the Pac-12 Championship game. Junior defensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113808/david-parry">David Parry</a> is expected to replace Stephens in the starting lineup.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/stanford-ncaaf/2012/11/22/3679092/stanford-cardinal-terrence-stephens-outMark Sandritter2012-11-21T17:50:53-08:002012-11-21T17:50:53-08:00Stanford heads to Pasadena as favorites Saturday
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes</figcaption>
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<p>The Cardinal are favored by two points in what could be a preview of the Pac-12 championship game on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. </p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a> will visit the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/ucla-bruins">UCLA Bruins</a> at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Saturday as two-point favorites in a preview of what could be the Pac-12 championship game,<a href="http://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/stanford-ucla-odds-november-24-2012" target="_blank"> according to OddsShark.com</a>.</p>
<p>The Cardinal (9-2) are coming off a major upset win on the road vs. Oregon in Eugene and have been battle-tested in a hostile environment. The relatively quieter confines of the 9-2 Bruins' home venue should not be as much of a factor in Stanford's ability to come away with the win and beat the spread.</p>
<p>There is a lot at stake for Stanford, who with a win can capture the Pac-12 North title. The over-under is set at 52.5, and 58.5 percent of the action agrees that the over is the safest bet. 62 percent has moved toward Stanford covering the spread with a win over the Bruins.</p>
<p>Of particular interest will be UCLA's offense against Stanford's stout defense. The Bruins have scored 37.7 points per game in 2012, while the Cardinal have allowed just 16.9.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/stanford-ncaaf/2012/11/21/3678026/stanford-vs-ucla-lines-odds-spreadMichael Jones