UC Davis, No. 11 Stanford Preview Capsule

The Associated Press

UC DAVIS (0-0) at No. 11 STANFORD (0-0), 4 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

Line: None.

Series Record: Tied 1-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Two-time defending Pac-12 champion Stanford hopes to tune up for next week’s matchup against No. 15 Southern California and get a small slice of revenge. UC Davis upset the Cardinal 20-17 in 2005, two years before Jim Harbaugh took over at Stanford and revived the program.

KEY MATCHUP

Stanford’s offensive line against UC Davis’ defensive line. It will be the first game for the Cardinal’s retooled offensive line, which features four new starters and one of the country’s top left tackles in Andrus Peat. But Stanford coach David Shaw expects the unit — all part of the acclaimed 2012 recruiting class — to be as good or better than any he has had before. Having a major size advantage against the Aggies should certainly help.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

UC Davis: QBs London Lacy and Ben Scott. The Aggies’ quarterback competition could go right up until kickoff, and even then it might not be settled. Neither Lacy (a senior) nor Scott (a sophomore) played last season, and both could see action against Stanford’s pressure-happy defense.

Stanford: RB Kelsey Young. The redshirt junior will be making his first career start and will bear the burden — along with Barry Sanders, Ricky Seale and Remound Wright — of replacing 1,700-yard rusher Tyler Gaffney.

FACTS & FIGURES

Stanford has won six straight season openers. … The Cardinal have won 16 consecutive home games, the second-longest active streak behind South Carolina (18). … Stanford has not lost to a nonconference team at home since Notre Dame in 2007. … UC Davis returns 18 starters from last year’s team, which rebounded from an 0-4 start to finish 5-7. … The Aggies’ last win against a Football Bowl Subdivision team was 14-13 victory over San Jose State in 2010.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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