Cardinal’s Luck, Harbaugh a formidable combination
At the end of this season, Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck will have a decision to make.
It's doubtful he will announce it during a one-hour special on ESPN.
It's also doubtful his coach will try to talk him into staying in school. That's because Jim Harbaugh will be faced with his own big decision.
Luck, a redshirt sophomore, is ready for the NFL, and so is Harbaugh.
If the Oakland Raiders are lucky enough to finish with the league's worst record, maybe they can keep the Cardinal's coach and quarterback in the Bay Area.
Out with Tom Cable and Jason Campbell/Bruce Gradkowski; in with Harbaugh and Luck. There could be hope for the Raiders.
"I really love the athletic ability of Luck. He runs so fluidly for a 6-4 kid. He's really the total package because he's got good arm strength and can make all the throws," Kenny White said. "I think for the NFL, he's the No. 1 guy right now."
White, out in early August as a Las Vegas Sports Consultants oddsmaker, is now the Vegas version of Mel Kiper Jr. White and Kiper have similar hairstyles and eyes for evaluating players.
After leaving LVSC, White established MVP Elite, a scouting and recruiting service for elite talent from preps to the pros. He also still handicaps football, which he's done for about three decades.
Probably the most intriguing game on Saturday's schedule is Stanford at Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish, off narrow losses to Michigan State and Michigan, are 4½-point home underdogs.
Few times in the Brian Kelly era will Notre Dame be a home 'dog. Kelly has been a bet-on coach, but it's not that simple this week.
Harbaugh has become as aggressive as anyone walking the sidelines. He stalks his prey and goes for the kill. He's on the lunatic fringe. Ask Pete Carroll.
Remember last year, when Stanford went on the road and crushed Southern California, 55-21? With a 48-21 lead, Harbaugh went for a 2-point conversion. Carroll shouted, "What's your deal?"
Carroll, another former run-up-the-score coach, bolted for the Seattle Seahawks. Harbaugh should join him in the NFL soon.
Harbaugh's deal is to win big and show no mercy. In Stanford's 68-24 victory over Wake Forest last week, Harbaugh challenged an incomplete pass late in the fourth quarter. He wanted the play to be ruled a Demon Deacons fumble. After all, he was protecting a 44-point lead.
We're about to find out if Stanford, which has a trip to Oregon on deck, can rule the Pac-10. It definitely has the best quarterback.
Washington's Jake Locker has lost his shot at that status.
Luck has passed for 674 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions in three blowout victories. He is the son of a former NFL quarterback and is coached by a former NFL quarterback.
He should have a big game on a big stage against Notre Dame, which has had some problems on the defensive side.
But it appears the Cardinal will be without star receiver Ryan Whalen, who suffered a left arm injury against Wake Forest.
The Irish have lost six of their past seven games, all by a touchdown or less, and the underdog is 13-1-1 in the past 15 Notre Dame games.
"The offense has been fine. It wasn't like Notre Dame got blown out by anybody," White said. "I think it's going down to the wire, and if they get a break here or there, the Irish can win the game."
When he was at LVSC, White put out a weekly oddsmakers poll that was often more accurate than the media and coaches rankings.
In the current MVP Elite poll -- compiled by White and three other oddsmakers -- Stanford is No. 9 and Notre Dame is 38th.
Luck is not the only QB draft prospect in the game, as Dayne Crist is making rapid progress for the Irish.
Notre Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph and receiver Michael Floyd are two of the nation's top targets, and Armando Allen is a running threat.
The home underdog looks tempting. It's not my best bet of the weekend, but it could be the best game to watch.
n CLOSING NUMBERS -- We all make mistakes in life, and touting UNLV plus-7 at Idaho last week was one.
The Rebels never had a chance, dropping me to 2-3 for the week and 9-7-1 for the season.
Here are seven plays for Saturday (home team in CAPS):
North Carolina State (+8½) over GEORGIA TECH; Georgia (+1) over MISSISSIPPI STATE; CINCINNATI (+14) over Oklahoma; NOTRE DAME (+4½) over Stanford; TEXAS (-15) over Ucla; BRIGHAM YOUNG (+4½) over Unr; SAN DIEGO STATE (-8) over Utah State
Contact Las Vegas Review-Journal sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. He also co-hosts the "Las Vegas Betting Line" weeknights at midnight on KDWN-AM (720) and kdwn.com.
