Dennis Dodd picked SMU to finish 2nd in the ACC. Yes they have any easy schedule, but they were 0-3 against Power 5 teams last year, including Boston College. He picked Cal 17th, behind Virginia, Stanford, Duke and W Forest. He also thinks ESPN will void the ACC agreement, despite the fact that ESPN is getting a bargain.
College football is now pro-light: transfer portal, NIL monies, player salaries, Pac 12 scattered across the country, and a long playoff season. Student-Athletes no more. I've followed the Bears from my youth through my Cal days and to the present. This year...no more.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Cal win 10 games this year. . . and I would be surprised to see Cal win 4. They have the ability - and if the coaches aren't working the chip from the East coast snubbing I would be surprised. A lot is on the line. . . including the coaches job. This is the year they have to perform - and show what they can do. Beating the big names means - you have to beat the lesser names as well. No roller coasting - and they will shock the ACC. GO BEARS!
I’ve viewed a half dozen or more YouTube assessments of what Cal’s season is likely to be in the opinion of various podcasters. It’s true most are pretty unfamiliar with the squad and its depth but several are I think fair (and in alignment with the over/under) in their record predictions (usually 6-6 or 7-5). I watched one where the guy predicts 8-4 and opines that the schedule is fairly easy. I disagree as I think it’s a tough early span of road trips, coupled with some doozy home tilts vs. Miami and NCSU. The more informed pundits, however, such as Spencer McLaughlin (LockedOnCollegeFootball) and Greg McElroy, expect Cal to continue to improve; overall it is most common for the reviews to state Cal will be in the mix for six or seven wins, probably make a low-rung bowl but not likely to achieve anything beyond that.
It will be another 6 and 6 regular season, imo. Our team has several question marks and I believe that the ACC will prove to be tougher, top to bottom, than many Cal fans believe.
One of the things that's struck me over the last few months is the lack of respect for the Pac-12. So many comments on nationwide sites predicting that Cal and furd will struggle "in a tougher conference" or "with a tougher schedule".
I ran some numbers: there have been 24 ACC/Pac-12 matchups since the formation of the Pac-12 in 2011. The Pac has won 20 of them. Cal and furd combined have won ten straight against the ACC.
I do feel like people are looking at Cal's record in a vacuum and forgetting just how tough the Pac was last season. 6-6 against that schedule is actually pretty impressive!
It's fine, if we can surprise people that's probably better anyway.
I get that PFF is all about their precious blocking grades but I feel like our real biggest weakness is defensive line. Our defensive scheme really falls apart when we can't generate any pressure up front, and that's really plagued us the last two seasons.
I feel like even if the O-line remains exactly where it was last season we'll be fine offensively, but our defensive line desperately needs to start generating disruption up front or our secondary is gonna get cooked again. Sure, it'll be nice to not have to face Caleb Williams or Michael Penix this year, but we're going to see DJU and Cam Ward again, both whom absolutely shredded our defense, and this time they'll have significantly more talent around them.
Our "defensive regression" seems to be a common theme. Aside from whatever issues Sirmon has, a large part of that was the offensive strategy change. Not as easy to limit the other teams' scoring when your entire strategy isn't to play Keep Away and run the clock.
I don't understand the leap from reasonable doubt about how much a group with a lot of question marks and a not very good relevant recent track record to "hate". None of those assessment have any hint of hate, just fair assessments of the situation.
Hate is when people hope a team that is capable of big things self destructs or suffers a terrible fate not of their own making. That's not the case with the Sturdy Mixed Results Golden Bears.
Now this is a hate...
https://athlonsports.com/college/florida-state-seminoles/all-seminoles/football/florida-state-vs-california-prediction
Dennis Dodd picked SMU to finish 2nd in the ACC. Yes they have any easy schedule, but they were 0-3 against Power 5 teams last year, including Boston College. He picked Cal 17th, behind Virginia, Stanford, Duke and W Forest. He also thinks ESPN will void the ACC agreement, despite the fact that ESPN is getting a bargain.
Why does this guy even have a job?
Dodd had Fla St #1 and SMU # 2. Oops
College football is now pro-light: transfer portal, NIL monies, player salaries, Pac 12 scattered across the country, and a long playoff season. Student-Athletes no more. I've followed the Bears from my youth through my Cal days and to the present. This year...no more.
In this August 21 update with byline "Austin Mock and The Athletic Staff", the Athletic seems to have Cal projected at 6-6 and on the very (outer) edge of the playoff bubble. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5701128/2024/08/21/college-football-playoff-projections-odds/
I wouldn't be surprised to see Cal win 10 games this year. . . and I would be surprised to see Cal win 4. They have the ability - and if the coaches aren't working the chip from the East coast snubbing I would be surprised. A lot is on the line. . . including the coaches job. This is the year they have to perform - and show what they can do. Beating the big names means - you have to beat the lesser names as well. No roller coasting - and they will shock the ACC. GO BEARS!
Pundits have to play to reputation and data, rather than confess to being ignorant of Cal’s real chances.
I will say that it is really a safer bet to downplay our chances, rather than betting on sunshine and get sunburnt.
Hope for the best,
Expect the worst.
Go Bears!
#Ott2BHeisman
Traditionally the ACC has been top heavy but it's pretty solid top to bottom at the moment.
Nobody is mentioning that we have depth at QB and RB (our season does sort of hinge on Ott but we are more than a one trick pony).
Happy to be underestimated! When we ruin FSUs season I am gonna LMFAO.
I’ve viewed a half dozen or more YouTube assessments of what Cal’s season is likely to be in the opinion of various podcasters. It’s true most are pretty unfamiliar with the squad and its depth but several are I think fair (and in alignment with the over/under) in their record predictions (usually 6-6 or 7-5). I watched one where the guy predicts 8-4 and opines that the schedule is fairly easy. I disagree as I think it’s a tough early span of road trips, coupled with some doozy home tilts vs. Miami and NCSU. The more informed pundits, however, such as Spencer McLaughlin (LockedOnCollegeFootball) and Greg McElroy, expect Cal to continue to improve; overall it is most common for the reviews to state Cal will be in the mix for six or seven wins, probably make a low-rung bowl but not likely to achieve anything beyond that.
Bullshit East Coast bias.
Well, hopefully this is the end of it as we become part of the ACC and get more exposure.
We’ve got the billboards to prove it.
It will be another 6 and 6 regular season, imo. Our team has several question marks and I believe that the ACC will prove to be tougher, top to bottom, than many Cal fans believe.
Yeah the schedule is pretty tough this year. Next year however looks relatively easy and could be a chance for a break out year.
One of the things that's struck me over the last few months is the lack of respect for the Pac-12. So many comments on nationwide sites predicting that Cal and furd will struggle "in a tougher conference" or "with a tougher schedule".
I ran some numbers: there have been 24 ACC/Pac-12 matchups since the formation of the Pac-12 in 2011. The Pac has won 20 of them. Cal and furd combined have won ten straight against the ACC.
I guess east coast bias is real.
I do feel like people are looking at Cal's record in a vacuum and forgetting just how tough the Pac was last season. 6-6 against that schedule is actually pretty impressive!
It's fine, if we can surprise people that's probably better anyway.
Coulda/shoulda been 8-4
I can't wait for former P12 teams to show up and start bullying some east coast teams and remind folks that they do in fact play football out west...
I get that PFF is all about their precious blocking grades but I feel like our real biggest weakness is defensive line. Our defensive scheme really falls apart when we can't generate any pressure up front, and that's really plagued us the last two seasons.
I feel like even if the O-line remains exactly where it was last season we'll be fine offensively, but our defensive line desperately needs to start generating disruption up front or our secondary is gonna get cooked again. Sure, it'll be nice to not have to face Caleb Williams or Michael Penix this year, but we're going to see DJU and Cam Ward again, both whom absolutely shredded our defense, and this time they'll have significantly more talent around them.
Cam Ward really didn't shred our D last year. We played good D against him and won.
He was the 6th or 7th best QB in the P12 last year (Nix, Penix, Williams, Sanders, Rising, Fifita). He came in 50th in ESPN's QB ratings.
But now that he's transferred to Miami, he is suddenly a Heisman-level talent, and is already the ACC "preseason player of the year".
The hype is unbelievable. No wonder Miami disappoints every year.
Everyone's defensive scheme really falls apart when it can't generate any pressure up front.
"hate" is way too diluted of word to be meaningful anymore like in the past umpteen years. A throw away abstraction of a vague thought.
Our "defensive regression" seems to be a common theme. Aside from whatever issues Sirmon has, a large part of that was the offensive strategy change. Not as easy to limit the other teams' scoring when your entire strategy isn't to play Keep Away and run the clock.
All publicity is good publicity. And now Cal will be seen by a LOT of East Coast eyeballs. Time to shine!
I don't understand the leap from reasonable doubt about how much a group with a lot of question marks and a not very good relevant recent track record to "hate". None of those assessment have any hint of hate, just fair assessments of the situation.
Hate is when people hope a team that is capable of big things self destructs or suffers a terrible fate not of their own making. That's not the case with the Sturdy Mixed Results Golden Bears.
Hard to say how much assessing has been done. Half of these predictions boiled down to "Cal has Jaydn Ott, I don't know much else".