Stanford basketball hopes for a festive outcome in its visit to one of the nation’s top party schools, Colorado, this Sunday at 1 p.m.

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Alex Oppenheimer

Sophomore center Robin Lopez leaps toward the basket during Stanford’s 84-58 victory over Sacramento State on Tuesday. Lopez and Co. will be gunning for their eighth win of the year.

The Cardinal (7-1) has enjoyed a quick start against undermanned opponents behind the inside-outside combination of junior guard Anthony Goods (13 points per game) and sophomore center Robin Lopez (12 points per game). Junior forward Lawrence Hill (10 points per game) has come on strong too, while Fred Washington, Landry Fields and starting point guard Mitch Johnson have been solid contributors, all chipping in at least seven points a game.

The Buffaloes (5-2) three key players are guards Richard Roby, Marcus Hall and Xavier Silas, each of whom average double figures on better than 40 percent shooting. The squad’s losses are both respectable — to New Mexico and Wisconsin, and their latest win, a 60-50 slugfest at Air Force, is downright impressive. Just ask Stanford, who saw the Falcons whoop them by 34 last year at Maples.

Roby, Hall and Silas, however, are all guards who top out at 6-foot-6, so coach Trent Johnson can force Colorado out of its comfort zone by going big and deploying Robin Lopez (7 feet), senior forward Taj Finger (6-foot-8), Hill (6-foot-8), and Washington (6-foot-5) at the five through two positions, respectively.

Stanford leads the Pac-10 at a plus-12 rebound margin per game, and for good reason: Hill was First-Team All Pac-10 last year, Robin Lopez is a monster in the post and, after an up-and-down Stanford career, Finger has impressed in his senior season by adding an improved offensive game to his stalwart defense. The differential in post talent (and size, with the tallest Colorado upperclassman measuring in at 6-foot-9) should give Stanford the edge coming into Sunday’s match-up.

The contest will be Stanford’s last that counts until a Dec. 19 visit from Santa Clara (an exhibition game against the College of Idaho will be three days earlier). Grades willing, sophomore center Brook Lopez will be eligible to play against the Broncos. Even so, expect coach Johnson to gradually work his top big man into the starting rotation — not because Lopez isn’t in game shape, as he’s looked strong in practice, but to send a message to his team and, particularly, to his sophomore star.

Just as in its previous eight contests (and next four, until the start of Pac-10 play), Stanford is facing an overmatched opponent in Colorado that, at least on paper, it should beat.

That’s obviously good news for the statistics and the team’s record, but its effect on the Cardinal’s postseason status is decidedly murkier. If the Cardinal keeps winning consistently, its weak non-conference schedule ought to be forgiven, especially after the three-month meat grinder that is the Pac-10 Conference schedule.

But do the math: The loss at Siena will sting and Santa Clara and Texas Tech a week later are no sure things. Stanford has built a reputation for struggling on the road under Johnson, and even the most wildly optimistic of fans could see the Cardinal finishing sixth or seventh in the Pac-10 (the team was picked fifth in the preseason media poll).

The bottom line is this: Not too many Stanford students have this game high on their radars, with Big Game the day before and finals lingering around the corner. But with a loss, plenty of folks might be looking back come Selection Sunday, saying “if only.” As Johnson and his squad would be the first to tell you, there’s little margin for error this Sunday.