One of the great aspects of college football is the scheduling of games over multiple TV windows throughout the day. The first late kickoff of 2024 between Power Four schools takes place Friday night when new ACC member Stanford welcomes TCU to Palo Alto for a non-conference matchup scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
The pick — Stanford +9 vs. TCU (-110, DraftKings)
After a 3-9 season in 2023, Stanford will have an opportunity to make an early statement as an ACC program against TCU, which went from making the 2022 national championship game to missing out on a bowl last season.
The stock arrow is pointing up for the Cardinal heading into head coach Troy Taylor’s second season. Taylor ran high-scoring offenses in the past, namely at FCS Sacramento State, before landing the job at Stanford.
Typically, a program with a second-year coach takes a leap because there has been a full season to implement schemes and recruit players. I’m looking forward to watching Taylor’s offense with returning starting quarterback Ashton Daniels.
To begin the season, I’m going neutral on this year’s Horned Frogs, but I would like to bet against them when they are a favorite on the road.
TCU went through expected regression after a dream 2022 national title game run, but winning five games in 2023 was a massive disappointment for Sonny Dykes’ program. QB Josh Hoover leads a Horned Frogs group that is very different from the one that beat Michigan in a College Football Playoff semifinal just 20 months ago.
I want to bet on the Cardinal early in the season before it begins a grueling ACC travel schedule. If you’re looking to stay up late on a Friday night, this is a spot to back Stanford.