Golden Nuggets: Prediction Thursday
Our favorite ESPN blogger Ted Miller predicts a big win for Arizona.
Arizona 35, California 24: Bears will show some fight but, Arizona is rested and has been consistent on both sides of the ball throughout the season.
Citing Arizona's impressive play on both sides of the ball (including their stout O-line which has only allowed 4 sacks), Feldman predicts a 35-28 win for Arizona.
John Tamahana predicts a 24-20 Arizona victory. Holding that offense to 24 points would be a victory in itself.
All five of Yahoo's/Rivals' experts predict an Arizona victory.
Four out of five of CBS's experts predict an Arizona victory.
After the jump I have a tidbit on Best visiting practice, injury updates (Hill and MSG are probable), Arizona's preparation for the wildcat, recap and analysis of the win over Detroit, looks ahead to the weekend in Cal sports, and more.
Cal Football
- Best visited campus for the first time since his injury. He may or may not be on the sidelines Saturday, depending on how he feels. Good news: Matt Summers-Gavin and Derrick Hill look like they'll return this weekend. Anthony Miller should return next weekend against Stanford. In some surprising news on the defense: Gregory is replacing Hill with Bryant Nnabufie. Kendricks and Hagan should see more playing time this weekend. Hagan wasn't on the field for a single snap last weekend.
- Arizona has been focused on preparing to take on the Cal's Wildcat. Stoops says his defense has to be disciplined and stick to their assignments without overcommitting. With Vereen leading the wildcat, perhaps Cal will try more passing out of the formation.
- Growing up the youngest of six children, Sean Cattouse learned the importance of asserting himself when he was young. Compared to many on the team, the sophomore is still young, but he has assumed a vocal role already. Cattouse (or Cat-house, as many uninformed announcers like to call him) provides "uplifting words" as he encourages his teammates and reminds them of their assignments.
Cal Basketball
- Farudo's game thread is a good recap of last night's 95-61 win over Detroit. After letting Detroit hang around for about 25 minutes, Randle and co decisively put the game away, outscoring them 55-25 over the last seventeen minutes. Farudo recaps the game in a CCTimes story. After two games in which Cal let its lead wax and wane, Monty says "We've just got to get the killer instinct, we've got to be able to put the foot on the throat."
- From Zhang to Robertson, Farudo seemed really impressed with Cal's performance in his post-game thoughts.
- SFGate recaps the game, focusing on the play of big men MSF and Zhang.
- Monty quietly brought in the 17th-ranked recruiting class, consisting of three guards and a forward.
- Boyle brought in an impressive recruiting class of her own, ranking 7th in the nation and consisting of three guards.
- Boyle's crew tips off the season against Idaho State this Sunday.
- Softball brought in four recruits.
- Women's volleyball signed two star prospects out of Texas.
- No. 2 men's water polo takes its seven-game winning streak into a home match against no. 15 Pacific, then visits no. 13 Santa Clara.
- No. 12 women's volleyball holds its last home match of the year, against Oregon State and no. 16 Oregon.
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14 comments
Comments
All five of Yahoo’s/Rivals’ experts predict an Arizona victory.
If you had said that to me a month and a half ago, I would have laughed in your face. Le sigh.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Nov 12, 2009 8:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
This is great news for us, actually.
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 12, 2009 8:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The fact that we are 6-3 with serious long term questions? Yeah, great news…
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Nov 12, 2009 8:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, 6-3 is AWFUL, PANICPANICPANIC
This is a good, not great program. That’s what it is right now until further notice. So, if by serious long-term questions you are referring to Cal’s ability to compete for a BCS bowl every year, then yes, I agree. But, if you mean’t we are doooooooooooomed for failure, I wholeheartedly disagree. Then again, you’re headed to like Clemson or something for college aren’t you?
It'll be just you, me, and Peter Nincompoop.
by BeastMode on Nov 12, 2009 8:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Because I was totally panicking? T-Bred said that it is great news that we are no longer undefeated and number 6 in the nation. Which I agree with.
And by serious long-term questions I mean that this line can’t block, and there aren’t going to magically be 5 new amazing offensive lineman starting next year. We have questions about our linebackers and secondary. Calling our quarterback inconsistent would be generous.
Your comment was overly antagonistic. It is nearly Friday. Calm the fuck down.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Nov 12, 2009 9:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I meant it was great news that 5 ‘experts’ were picking against us in jest because ‘expert’ writers are no better than you or me. Arizona hasn’t proven much yet.
These are questions that many, many other teams have. All our opponents have strengths and weaknesses. You paint the OL problem worse than it is; there are bright spots, namely in a true freshman playing on the OL… first in Tedford’s history, I believe.
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 12, 2009 9:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think everyone hear needs to calm down. Also, why bother cursing in this context?
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
by ch0ster on Nov 13, 2009 6:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
"hear?" wow I need sleep...
i'm here to clean your pool but i don't have a pool *bowchica bowow*
by ch0ster on Nov 13, 2009 6:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
football =/= serious business
i dunno if these questions are that serious. we have the worst facilities in the Pac-10 (undergoing upgrade), a so-so recruiting base, and some grumpy fans. the most important statistic in football W-L record is the same as it was last year at this time, and if we win this weekend, it will be even better.
predicting the future of our team this year and next is too difficult a task. try to enjoy it for itself and not get caught up in the hype or panic. that’s just the nature of college football.
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 12, 2009 8:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe long term wasn’t the best way to put it, but problems that will plague us for the next 2 years or so.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Nov 12, 2009 9:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
there was just as much doom and gloom after the 2007 season… 2008 wildly exceeded our expectations on defense. Point is: it’s college football… don’t judge a team by its returning starters and the wins they had previously. every season is a new one. given our talent level, 6-3 is almost exceeding expectations. i don’t see a team that’s any more talented across the board than any other middling BCS teams.
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 12, 2009 9:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
try to enjoy it for itself and not get caught up in the hype or panic. that’s just the nature of college football.
Yes, yes, and yes.
Thank you.
by sec119 on Nov 12, 2009 9:07 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
haha =P you’re welcome
STAY THIRSTY, MY FRIENDS
by Thoroughbred on Nov 12, 2009 9:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Boyle brought in an impressive recruiting class of her own, ranking 7th in the nation and consisting of three guards.
Joanne Boyle is knocking my socks off. The #1 class in the nation followed by the #7 (which I’m guessing would be higher if she needed to sign a bigger class) is the type of results we need to seriously challenge Stanford. We’re pretty much on equal footing currently when it comes to recruits and I never thought I’d be saying something like that.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Nov 12, 2009 10:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

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