I'd take seven wins, though I would prefer 8 or 9. It seems like offensively we have to do more than trying to run out the clock with conservatism starting midway through the third quarter. However, Chase has usually put us in a position to win on the last drive several times. Worked against SC and Washington, didn't work against Stanford and OSU last season due to flukey plays against us.
CAL will outperform again. I just was in the midst of a long write up on why, with an in depth analysis of our strengths and weaknesses against our opponents and it magically disappeared. So I'll just make this short. We may not have the talent of UW, UO, USC and a few more, but we have one of the best coaching staff's around, and smart and disciplined kids. Give Justin Wilcox and his staff talent like UO or USC and they'd be in the championship playoffs every year. I also see Garbers coming into his own this year in Musgrave's system. If he does this, with his athleticism he could be the best QB in the PAC12. Let's hope I'm right. We have a lot of returning experience, depth everywhere but D-Line, and even there we are in better shape than before. (But losing Brett Johnson for the year cannot be understated). Our offense will be fun to watch and if its clicking we should put plenty of points on the board for a ball control offense. Our D will flex and bend, but should keep us in every game. I think our toughest games will be UO in Autzen, but would love to see us silence that crowd of hippies who hated football until Phil Knight provided the billions needed to buy a team, and UCLA because Chip Kelly knows how to scheme his offense against Wilcox's defenses. Should be a fun year. Go Bears!!
If we go by the recent track record, the oddsmakers are 1.5 wins behind. That gives Cal 7 regular season wins, plus a bowl game win hopefully. I like our chances this year. Lots of returning players, including key 6th year seniors. We’ve beaten the reigning PAC-12 champion three years in a row, two of them on the road, if I’m not mistaken. Road success is an under appreciated dimension of Wilcox’s tenure. I’m ready for a breakout year.
The odds makers know what they are doing, and I would say they got it right on the predictions for Cal's season. I am basing that on a hugely disappointing showing in last year's abbreviated season. I know that Musgrave was breaking in an all new offense, but the lack of a ground attack and an inconsistent passing game were there for all to see.
There is no one on the offensive side of the ball that will scare defenses, so they will cheat up to stop the run. The loss of Johnson on defense cannot be understated. A 5-7 season sounds about right, unfortunately
Odds makers don't care how teams/programs finish. It's all based on the greater publics reception. They want half the people to bet one way and the other half to bet, the other way.
Put another way....not many people are betting on Cal football.
Cal will hit the over. Viewed all the pac 12 teams over/unders and this one stood out to me, before I saw this article.
I'd take seven wins, though I would prefer 8 or 9. It seems like offensively we have to do more than trying to run out the clock with conservatism starting midway through the third quarter. However, Chase has usually put us in a position to win on the last drive several times. Worked against SC and Washington, didn't work against Stanford and OSU last season due to flukey plays against us.
Chips on our shoulders? Go Bears!
CAL will outperform again. I just was in the midst of a long write up on why, with an in depth analysis of our strengths and weaknesses against our opponents and it magically disappeared. So I'll just make this short. We may not have the talent of UW, UO, USC and a few more, but we have one of the best coaching staff's around, and smart and disciplined kids. Give Justin Wilcox and his staff talent like UO or USC and they'd be in the championship playoffs every year. I also see Garbers coming into his own this year in Musgrave's system. If he does this, with his athleticism he could be the best QB in the PAC12. Let's hope I'm right. We have a lot of returning experience, depth everywhere but D-Line, and even there we are in better shape than before. (But losing Brett Johnson for the year cannot be understated). Our offense will be fun to watch and if its clicking we should put plenty of points on the board for a ball control offense. Our D will flex and bend, but should keep us in every game. I think our toughest games will be UO in Autzen, but would love to see us silence that crowd of hippies who hated football until Phil Knight provided the billions needed to buy a team, and UCLA because Chip Kelly knows how to scheme his offense against Wilcox's defenses. Should be a fun year. Go Bears!!
If we go by the recent track record, the oddsmakers are 1.5 wins behind. That gives Cal 7 regular season wins, plus a bowl game win hopefully. I like our chances this year. Lots of returning players, including key 6th year seniors. We’ve beaten the reigning PAC-12 champion three years in a row, two of them on the road, if I’m not mistaken. Road success is an under appreciated dimension of Wilcox’s tenure. I’m ready for a breakout year.
The odds makers know what they are doing, and I would say they got it right on the predictions for Cal's season. I am basing that on a hugely disappointing showing in last year's abbreviated season. I know that Musgrave was breaking in an all new offense, but the lack of a ground attack and an inconsistent passing game were there for all to see.
There is no one on the offensive side of the ball that will scare defenses, so they will cheat up to stop the run. The loss of Johnson on defense cannot be understated. A 5-7 season sounds about right, unfortunately
Odds makers don't care how teams/programs finish. It's all based on the greater publics reception. They want half the people to bet one way and the other half to bet, the other way.
Put another way....not many people are betting on Cal football.
Cal will hit the over. Viewed all the pac 12 teams over/unders and this one stood out to me, before I saw this article.
And I'm a Oregon fan.
Go Bears!
“ the Bears are 10-11 in games decided by 8 points or (fewer).”