Week 3 Game Matchup: Cal Bears VS. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Cal Bears (2-0) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-0)
Saturday, September 19, 9:00 AM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Cal -14.0
Sam’s Take (14 – 4):
I don’t want to jinx the Bears, but I cannot see them losing this game. A couple of weeks before the season started I may have looked at this cross-country match up as a potential repeat of last year’s Maryland game, but after watching Cal so far, I cannot in good conscience pick against them.
Granted, Jeff Tedford’s team has not played on the road yet (particularly in a brand new outdoor stadium), but the Bears are playing excellent football on both sides of the ball, and a noisy environment shouldn’t faze this group. Cal has very high expectations for the season, so I expect a focused and determined effort on Saturday.
Jahvid Best will look to continue his Heisman campaign Saturday, but I am most interested in seeing the continued development of Kevin Riley, who is asserting himself as one of the most reliable QBs in the Pac-10. He has already proven that he can utilize a variety of weapons (Jones, Boateng, Tucker etc.) so all he has to do is continue to make good decisions with the football.
Defensively, the Bears should be fine against an inconsistent Minnesota offense. The Golden Gophers do have some talent, but on paper Cal’s D should dominate the match-up.
I know Cal has a history of inexplicably losing a game that it shouldn’t, but I don’t believe that game is this week.
Prediction: Cal 37 – Minnesota 17
Cal Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Shane Vereen - Jahvid Best’s partner in crime already has five total touchdowns this season (4 rush, 1 rec.) and his versatility should be on display Saturday.
Minnesota Player to Keep an Eye On: LB Lee Campbell – Talented WR Erick Decker will have to play well on offense, but Campbell and the rest of the experienced linebackers must be able to contain the Cal running game in order for the Gophers to have a chance.
Dave’s Take (14 – 4):
If not for last year’s Maryland upset, I’d be a lot more concerned about this game for the Bears. Minnesota is exactly the type of team that will play you without fear and stick to their aggressive game plan no matter who you are; exactly the type of team that could upset you if you aren’t careful.
But the Bears will be careful; at least I have to believe that they will be. There are too many players returning from last year’s team that know the dangers of overlooking an inferior opponent and simply shouldn’t let it happen again.
Also working in favor of the Bears, and I’m sorry to say this Ducks fans, is Oregon’s struggles of late. Next week’s matchup between Cal and Oregon was looking on paper to be a battle between two Pac-10 powers; if Oregon was in top form and had stomped Boise State and Purdue, it would create a serious danger of looking ahead to that one.
With Oregon losing to Boise State and just scraping by Purdue, they don’t look as dangerous as they could have. That isn’t to say that they can’t catch the Bears sleeping next week if they aren’t taken seriously; but it is to say that the Bears shouldn’t be worried about them right now and should be able to keep their focus on the task at hand; going into Minnesota and taking care of business.
I think they’ll do just that. I hope they’ll do just that. A loss here would be catastrophic for the team and the conference. No pressure, huh?
Prediction: Cal 38 – Minnesota 17
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
Thank you for making the honest attempt to talk about this. I believe very sturdy approximately it and wish to read more. If it’s OK, as you acquire more extensive wisdom, might you mind including extra articles similar to this one with more information? It would be extraordinarily useful and useful for me and my friends.
Nice writing style. I enjoy reading what you write.
No matter what his rank or position may be, the lover of books is the richest and happiest of the children of men.
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
Very interesting subject, appreciate it for putting up.
I saw a lot of website but I think this one contains something special in it in it
I wish more people would make a note sites like this that are in truth accommodating to read. With all the balls up floating around on the web, it is rare to look over a site like yours instead.
Hrmm that was weird, my comment got eaten. Anyway I wanted to say that it’s nice to know that someone else also mentioned this as I had trouble finding the same info elsewhere. This was the first place that told me the answer. Thanks.
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Thanks a lot!
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your site provided us with valuable info to work on. You have done an impressive job and our entire community will be grateful to you.
Very useful article, thank you share.nike shoes online
Remarkable. This is a certain more effective write-up that I have ever found. But merely how can you handle most of the problems that you are facing right now?
Simply, admirable what you have done here. It is pleasing to look you express from the heart and your clarity on this significant content can be easily looked. Remarkable post and will look forward to your future update.
I really don’t suspect we should be accessorizing with loincloths made of dingo skin, finer quality than we’ve been effective at exercise routine. Every time we realize it may be really worth doing, it is interesting.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
I Love Latins.com is a Dating and Marriage agency, that host Romance tours and Singles vacations to Barranquilla, Colombia to Personally Introduce Single gentlemen to Beautiful, Single Ladies, Single Women, Single Latinas, Single Colombian Women, Colombian Ladies. For Dating, Romance, Friendship, andMarriage
After research a number of of the weblog posts in your website now, and I really like your approach of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site list and will likely be checking again soon. Pls check out my website online as nicely and let me know what you think.
Useful info. Lucky me I found your web site by chance, and I’m surprised why this coincidence did not took place earlier! I bookmarked it.
crampe Gerri rittmeister belindez decant tonsil Nha vinicius outdid
Couldn?t be written any better. Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
You just answered my question !
Thank you for this informative submit. I have tried a lot of diverse wine openers throughout the years. I have tried from original that is hard to operate to automatic, which would be excellent if it woudnt will need batteries changed so normally. I feel the most effective choice would be Houdini Wine Opener. Corkscrews are removed just in fewtwists. Dont believe me?. You are able to dig deeper and see for yourself.
There’s significantly a lot of money to understand relating to this. I suppose a person made sure good factors within functions additionally.
Hello there, You have done a fantastic job. I will definitely digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this web site.
Spot on with this write-up, I truly think this web site needs far more consideration. I’ll most likely be again to read way more, thanks for that info.
But yeah Several thanks for taking time to argue this, I feel strongly about it and in truth like learning extra on this theme. If doable, as you acquire expertise, would you mind updating your internet site with extra data? It truly is extremely valuable for me.
I’m so happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc.
Trackbacked your internet site just induce it’s epic and leet ;)
thanks for sharing your thoughts, I haven’t think of this before, keep posting mate!
You have written a nice post. I am gonna subscribe to your blog.I seem to have an issue with load time on your site.It always seems to load slowly. Could you please fix it.
Aw, this was a very nice post. In concept I want to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and under no circumstances seem to get something done.
You always give such useful information. I will repost this because I found it interesting.
One of the more impressive blogs Ive seen. Thanks so much for keeping the internet classy for a change. Youve got style, class, bravado. I mean it. Please keep it up because without the internet is definitely lacking in intelligence.
Would you be fascinated with exchanging links?
This is the perfect blog for anyone who wants to know about this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I really would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
*There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That is a great point to bring up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you bring up where the most important thing will be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impact of just a moment’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.