It took the Stanford Cardinal fleeing to a conference on an entirely different coast to renew the Bill Walsh Legacy Game, a rivalry with the San Jose State Spartans that unites two programs by one legendary coach. It hasn’t been played since 2013, but that only adds intrigue to the Week 14 matchup.
Who will prevail? Our Stanford vs. San Jose State prediction dives into all the details—from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both programs as they navigate the final game of the 2024 college football regular season.
Stanford vs. San Jose State Betting Preview
All Stanford vs. San Jose State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
San Jose State -0.5 - Spread
San Jose State -2.5 - Moneyline
San Jose State -130, Stanford +110 - Over/Under
55.5 points - Game Time
4:00 p.m. ET - Location
CEFCU Stadium | San Jose, CA - Predicted Weather at Kick
57 degrees, 1 mph winds, mostly cloudy - How To Watch
CBS
Friday marks the 68th meeting of the Spartans and Cardinal, and it’s a rivalry that has been heavily rooted in Stanford success. While it hasn’t been played since 2013, the Cardinal won the last six editions of the matchup and carries a 52-14-1 winning record into the 2024 edition of the Bill Walsh Legacy game. Can they continue their domination when the rivalry renews this week?
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After a difficult first season in the ACC, the oddsmakers don’t seem to think so. San Jose State is a 2.5-point favorite late in the week, perhaps bolstered by home-field advantage. It’s worth noting that the Spartans are 1-6 ATS in their last seven games, while Stanford has carried outright success into the betting arena, going 8-3 ATS in the last 11 editions of the rivalry game.
Stanford’s Winning Probability
The Cardinal have gone 3-9 in each of the last three seasons — they are currently 3-8. Will they finally snap the streak and win a fourth? The FPM gives them a less than 50% chance to do so.
- at San Jose State: 49.6%
San Jose State’s Winning Probability
The Spartans secured bowl eligibility with a win against the Oregon State Beavers early this month, but they are coming off back-to-back losses to the Mountain West leaders, the Boise State Broncos and the UNLV Rebels. They’ll want to finish the season on a high note, especially since they haven’t defeated Stanford since 2006.
- vs. Stanford: 50.4%
Prediction for Stanford vs. San Jose State
San Jose State made the Broncos and Rebels sweat for their victories, playing well early before wearing out. Stanford doesn’t have the talent to generate a similar performance.
But before diving into the analytics, current form is certainly a factor. The Cardinals are coming off two emotionally taxing games (a 38-35 upset of the Louisville Cardinals and a 24-21 loss to the California Bears). Will they be able to get up for the season finale?
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Despite being the second-most pass-happy offense in the nation (64.06%), the Spartans have only allowed 10 sacks on the year. Starting QB Walker Eget should have no issue ripping Stanford’s defense (129th in defensive dropback success rate) apart, particularly with prolific WRs Nick Nash and Justin Lockhart on the outside.
The other side of the ball is more of a “moveable object vs. a stoppable force,” with the Cardinal offense ranking 99th in EPA per play and the SJSU defense ranking 101st in EPA per play allowed. Stanford leans on its rushing game, which just so happens to be the Spartans’ lone strength.
Take San Jose State to beat Stanford for the first time in nearly 20 years, though the Cardinal have the talent to cover the tight spread.
Prediction: San Jose State 28, Stanford 27
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