Cal Football opens as 11-point underdogs to Oregon
Uphill battle as the Golden Bears search for our first win of the season.
Things are looking bad for the California Golden Bears. Having lost all three of our games, we’re running out of time and options to keep this from being a winless season. Our next contest isn’t looking too easy.
Though Oregon just suffered their first loss of the season—to Oregon State on a last-minute touchdown—they were preseason favorites to win the conference and still a Top-25 team.
The Vegas line has opened with the Ducks favored by 11 points and an over/under at 57.5, effectively meaning a prediction of a 34.25–23.25 win for Oregon.
California leads the series—but Oregon has a prime opportunity to tie it all up. Our overall record is 41–40–2 with California just barely owning more wins. That being said, Oregon has won 10 of the past 11 and Justin Wilcox has yet to beat his alma mater—his three games against them/Mario Cristobal have a combined score of 104–55. The good news is that our latest game was the closest, but still a 17–7 defeat.
Can Wilcox finally beat Oregon? How would you bet on this game?
Offense and defense are looking better. We would have been 2-1 this season with fewer special teams mistakes these past two weeks. I don't really care how this season ends, just want to see improvement like we have so far. I'm really looking forward to 2021 with a full summer/fall of practice and Chase as a senior.
Oregon to win. -25.
1. Wilcox is jinxed against his alma mater. Something Herm Edwards, unfortunately, does not share.
2. The Ducks will be out to make a CFP comeback statement after the tough loss to OSU. Even if there is no way for the CFP for this year, they will want to salvage their rep.
3. Special Teams- what's gonna' change in one week's time? 10-14 of the above points I am giving will be courtesy of Special Teams.
4. Building, but inconsistent offense. How many up-the-middle-until-it's-really-obviously-not-working will we see? Garbers is ten dollars off the "dime" on some of his throws, especially the long balls, so explosive plays will not likely happen. What am I not seeing here? I love these guys, I think they are on the right track, but fewer practices and less robust practices among those that did happen are telling a tale. I think they will be post-COVID awesome, but this year was an afterthought and a write-off. There's some hope of Brown playing a full game along with the good news of Moore and Dancy, but, newsflash, inconsistent blocking has me cringing that a new injury is in the offing.
5. Defense, well, we were spoiled in the few past years. They were some wide open spaces in secondary. And the offensive three-n-outs did not help the D stay alive. Saint Weaver, where art thou?
Honestly, I have a bad feeling about this and, though I love this team and believe in the coaching, we're going to get waxed. This year just sucks, never mind CFB. Why affirm what we already know and poor gas on the dumpster fire of a COVID-cancelled life as we know it by pretending we can finding a meaningful way to play a sports in a political-economic-medical minefield. Go Bears, love you no matter what, but, no, nothing is normal this year and all bets are off. Or on the opposition.
Mark my words, Ducks by 25 or more.