Cal v. Oregon 11.01.08 Pregame and 1st Quarter Open Thread
As of right now, there are four teams tied atop the Pac-10 standings with just one loss apiece: Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, and USC. Oregon State has already beaten USC, while the Trojans have defeated Oregon. Ignoring the other possible contenders for the Pac-10 crown (Arizona and Stanford still have remote, highly improbable shots at the title), that leaves just 4 games between the 4 contentders, games that will most likely determine who gets the conference's automatic BCS bid. Those games:
11.01 - Oregon @ California
11.08 - California @ USC
11.15 - California @ Oregon State
11.29 - Oregon @ Oregon State
As you can see, Cal's got a tough road to hoe these next three weeks, but it does control its own destiny. Even if the Bears can't run the table, Cal will definitely have a say in who does win the conference title, and depending on who they lose to, there are scenarios where Cal loses again but still gets the automatic BCS bid.
But that's getting ahead of ourselves. Today, it's the Ducks, and only the Ducks, that matter. Win today, and then we can start talking about scenarios.
How about a little post-Halloween mojo to get the morning started?
While you're not rooting on our Bears, here's what else is on TV for your College Football Saturday viewing pleasure:
Broadcast TV:
Pittsburgh @ Notre Dame, 11:43AM - NBC
#24 Oregon @ California, 12:30PM - ABC
#8 Florida @ #6 Georgia, 12:30PM - CBS
#1 Texas @ #7 Texas Tech, 5:00PM - ABC
Like most of us who will be at the game today, I'll miss watching what promises to be a doozy of a Cocktail Party in Florida. You can certainly understand why CBS pays all of that money for broadcast rights to SEC games.
NBC, however? That's harder to understand. For all their millions, they get the exclusive right to nationally broadcast...Pitt at Notre Dame? Ugh, whatever. And what's with the extremely odd starting time? Is John McCain running a 13-minute counterattack ad?
After the game, you should have about an hour to head home and get settled in for Texas at Texas Tech. Most of the experts I've seen are predicting an end to the Longhorns' run in Lubbock, but I'm not so sure. I think the 'Horns pull this one out.
Basic Cable:
Wisconsin @ #21 Michigan State, 9:00AM - ESPN
Northwestern @ #17 Minnesota, 9:00AM - ESPN2
Kansas State @ Kansas, 9:30AM - Comcast Sports Net Bay Area
Iowa @ Illinois, 12:30PM - ESPN
Washington @ #5 USC, 3:30PM - Comcast Sports Net Bay Area
Tennessee @ South Carolina, 4:00PM - ESPN2
Nebraska @ #4 Oklahoma, 5:00PM - ESPN
Waking up to mediocre Big 10 football on ESPN seems like a weekly tradition. This week we get a couple of marginally-ranked teams in Michigan State and Minnesota hosting formerly-ranked Wisconsin and Northwestern. I'll be watching the first part of the Sparty game before heading up to Berkeley, but I can't say that I'll be enjoying it.
For those of you at home, you can switch over to UW @ USC immediately after the Cal game; I probably won't get home until after 'SC has already hung 3 or 4 touchdowns on the Huskies. Oh well.
Premium Cable:
West Virginia @ #25 Connecticut, 9:00AM - ESPN360.com
#18 Tulsa @ Arkansas, 11:00AM - ESPN360.com
Arkansas State @ #2 Alabama, 12:00PM - ESPN360.com
#15 Florida State @ Georgia Tech, 12:30PM - ESPN360.com
Iowa State @ #9 Oklahoma State, 12:30PM - ESPN360.com
#20 BYU @ Colorado State, 3:00PM - The Mtn.
#11 Boise State @ New Mexico State, 4:00PM - ESPN360.com
Tulane @ #19 LSU, 5:00PM - ESPN360.com
#10 Utah @ New Mexico, 6:30PM - The Mtn.
Forced at gunpoint to watch one of these games, I would probably pick Florida State at Georgia Tech, mostly because I'm one of those people that really likes watching the triple-option. Also, I rather expect Florida State to take their new ranking and promptly tank on the road. Even if they don't, they're way too high at #15. Should be fun.
Pay-Per-View or No TV:
#14 Missouri @ Baylor, 12:00PM
Washington State @ Stanford, 2:00PM
#13 TCU @ UNLV, 5:00PM
What? Nobody's bothering to broadcast Washington State @ Stanford? Really? I am shocked, SHOCKED I tell you. Wazzu's gonna lose, and the Tree wil move tantalizingly close to bowl eligibility at 5-4. Too bad their final three games are @ Oregon, vs. USC, and @ California.
Wait, what am I saying? That's not too bad; that's a delicious opportunity to take back the Axe and kill the Cardinal's bowl hopes in one fell swoop! I haven't looked forward to Big Game this much in quite a few years.
This thread should take us up to kickoff and through the first quarter; open threads for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters should follow. Comment away! Also: The CGB has been posting a lot lately. To not be forgotten are other excellent posts: See Maharg shotgunning a beer; some more photos from the Cal game, and videos of the awesome marching band performance, see my post-game thoughts and overly generous grade to Riley; our discussion of the Top25, and see our once-per-month post by CBKWit. Also, Hydro's amazing analysis and a discussion regarding running up the score. Plus, YouTube Thursday, and the Roundtable. And don't forget our Q+A with Addicted to Quack and a slight statistical rundown of the Ducks.
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I believe the Bears will play very well today…but they still might lose. There is a lot of great Pac-10 football to be played in November, but today’s game at Memorial just might be the game of the year.
Go Bears!
Great.... we're going to lose.
Lee Corso picks Cal to win.
Pac-10 teams are 25-7 at home this year…
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
Don't forget to stuff the ballots for Alex Mack
He’s still only at 7 percent, but he jumped the other dude who was at 7 too.
Vote HERE
...nuh nuh nuh gone
Chris Fowler puts Cal on upset alert for the THIRD TIME this year
(Maryland, ASU, OU — we’re favored despite the ranking)
...nuh nuh nuh gone
i like how bob knight totally just ripped the pac 10
….although it’s sadly true this year
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
We'll see what happens in the bowl games
We all know teams in the Big 12 moved so high up in the rankings because of the cupcakes scheduled at the beginning of the year (during which ranked teams were losing to BCS opponents). I think the bowl season may clear some things up.
...nuh nuh nuh gone
my weekly question
Anyone know where I can find the game online this week?
I just checked Wunderground. This is going to be a soaker. My poor parents sure picked the right game to come to…
Sheriff of the Welcome Team.
Welcome.
Now Go Away.
And Stop Arguing Nate vs. Kevin.
It's raining cats and dogs right now.
I just hope we stay as healthy as possible…
...nuh nuh nuh gone
by Thoroughbred on Nov 1, 2008 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
game
it’s on espn360 if you got it, and they leave the old games up there all year for your Tedford-ordered tailgate party.
ESPN360 isn’t available to the Comcast people.
by BearsNecessity on Nov 1, 2008 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
SHIT
It’s fucking raining like hell
And I woke up late
I have to run to the stadium now with an empty stomach :(
In other words, Go Bears!
The team is wearing all gold for the first time ever. It’s really raining hard now. It was light rain an hour ago, but heavy now. It will be a fun walk up to the stadium.
ಠ_ಠ
ALL GOLD?
Well…that’s going to be scary to look at.
by BearsNecessity on Nov 1, 2008 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow those are ugly! We look like banannas.
by LostRenegade7 on Nov 1, 2008 12:39 PM PDT up reply actions
truly a statement game
that statement: our uniforms are uglier than yours
Wisconsin calling that timeout was horrid.
by BearsNecessity on Nov 1, 2008 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t know. looked pretty clean to me. But this non HD stuff kills me, so who knows
by LostRenegade7 on Nov 1, 2008 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions
What the heck is going on?
All I am getting is Auburn – Ole Miss. SIGH
To be exact, its starting out exactly opposite of two years ago.
by LostRenegade7 on Nov 1, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
4 yards is pretty good for a first down carry.
by BearsNecessity on Nov 1, 2008 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Back when I used to live at Berkeley I could hear the cannon before the play
On one hand, it was kind of neat to know a score was coming, but on the other hand… no surprise
I don't
I want our margin of victory to be way more than 1 pt.
The Bear will not quit, the Bear will not die
Me too
I don’t think my heart could take a 1 pt game
i'm seriously gonna miss that guy next year
Zack Follett ftw!!
Yea, we’re going to lose a lot once he’s gone
by LostRenegade7 on Nov 1, 2008 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
It looked like it. It holds the ball out just a bit farther than it should be normally. exposed ball + rain = bad
by LostRenegade7 on Nov 1, 2008 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions
What a weird game so far. Turnovers, missed PAT, receivers actually catching balls, a safety. Whats next for our bears?
Well, with Longshore coming in, we could see that TD run.
by LostRenegade7 on Nov 1, 2008 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
these gold jerseys look worse than last year’s design for some reason. i can’t quite put my finger on why
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
Seriously though
Seems like the plan is to beat Oregon in both phases of the game: Score and hideousness of unis.
ShouldTedford bench Best for the game because of the fumble? He used to do that with other players, Marshawn included.
I remember him fumbling a few during the Callapse
by BearsNecessity on Nov 1, 2008 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
Is this going to be like the game 4 years ago against Oregon where every call went our way and a few seemed a bit phantom?
ive said this before, but damn this 360 lag!!!
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
I wonder what Tedford said to his players to get them to all step up so much today. Or is it hate for Oregon that does this?
by LostRenegade7 on Nov 1, 2008 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Not sure, he’s been inconsistent week by week.
by BearsNecessity on Nov 1, 2008 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions
Don’t know how bad the injury is. He looks okay.
by BearsNecessity on Nov 1, 2008 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
stay positive, damn you! don't jinx this
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
it's not 4th quarter yet
so you’re 30 minutes early

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