It took the Stanford Cardinal moving to a conference on the opposite coast to revive the Bill Walsh Legacy Game—a rivalry with the San Jose State Spartans that honors the legendary coach who left his mark on both programs. The game hasn’t been played since 2013, which only adds to the intrigue heading into this Week 14 showdown.
Who will come out on top? Our Stanford vs. San Jose State prediction breaks down everything you need to know—from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both teams as they close out 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 Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
San Jose State -1 - Spread
San Jose State -2.5 - Moneyline
San Jose State -130, Stanford +110 - Over/Under
54.5 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 gave both the Broncos and Rebels a run for their money, starting strong before running out of steam. Stanford, however, lacks the depth and talent to replicate those competitive efforts.
Before digging into the numbers, let’s consider the current form. The Cardinal are coming off back-to-back emotionally charged matchups — a 38-35 upset over Louisville and a 24-21 loss to Cal. Can they find the energy to rise to the occasion for their season finale?
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San Jose State’s offense, the second-most pass-heavy in the nation (64.06%), has been remarkably efficient, allowing only 10 sacks all year. With starting QB Walker Eget at the helm, the Spartans should have no trouble shredding Stanford’s secondary, which ranks 129th in defensive dropback success rate. Eget will have plenty of firepower at his disposal with standout WRs Nick Nash and Justin Lockhart on the outside.
The defensive matchup is less inspiring — a true “movable object vs. stoppable force” situation. Stanford’s offense ranks 99th in EPA per play, while San Jose State’s defense sits at 101st in EPA per play allowed. The Cardinal’s rushing attack is their bread and butter, but that also happens to be the Spartans’ strongest defensive area.
Expect San Jose State to break their nearly 20-year losing streak against Stanford. While the Cardinal might keep it close enough to cover the slim spread, the Spartans have the edge to secure the win.
Prediction: San Jose State 28, Stanford 27
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