Fracas on The Farm already?

New head coach Jim Harbaugh (pictured) welcomed back 17 starters from Stanford’s 2006 team. Unfortunately, that Cardinal squad was 1-11 and didn’t win a game at newly renovated Stanford Stadium last season.

They’ll probably do better this season, if for no other reason that the Cardinal has eight home games in 2007. But returning quarterback T.C. Ostrander started five games and completed only 45.6% of his passes and had five interceptions against three touchdowns.

Moreover, Stanford’s best pass receiver, Mark Bradford, returning from an injury-plagued 2006, may have tendinitis in his left knee according to a story by Michelle Smith of the San Francisco Chronicle. Safeties Bo McNally (hand) and Carlos McFall (shoulder) are both hurt, although McNally is expected to play against the Bruins.

And our spy in the Bay Area, admittedly no fan of Harbaugh, reports "disorganized practices, a few jousts with the Admissions department [already] and a coaching staff not up to Pac-10 norm."

Time will tell. For now, the oddsmakers agree with our spy: the Bruins are a 16-point choice on the road with an over-under of 48. So those who accept wagers are saying the Bruins are supposed to trim the Tree by a 32-16 final.