Golden Nuggets: Cal-Oregon State Score Predictions

The winner of this week's matchup will likely finish in the top half of the conference while the loser will be fortunate to finish at 5-4.  A win would be a momentum-builder as each of these teams heads into the toughest portion the schedule.

Ted Miller (an impressive 38-12 on the season) picks a narrow Beaver victory.  If he knew Good Cal would show up, he might change his mind...

Oregon State 30, California 27: If the Cal team that whipped Arizona State last weekend shows up, the Beavers are in trouble. But because the Bears haven't produced that team on a regular basis, we're tapping the Beavers. 

All four Yahoo writers and 87% of their readers pick the Beavers to win.

After the jump Cal Athletics expects to receive about 50% more revenue after all the Pac-12 dust is settled, Quizz talks about having a breakout game, Glenn Dickey calls out critics of Cal's coaches, and basketball holds its open practice.

Cal Athletics

• Graduation rates for Cal Athletics climbed another point to 81%, an all-time high.
• Receiving about $8.5 million from the conference annually, Cal will receive upwards of $13 million once the Pac-12 and new media contracts are established.  Barbour has not said much about how Cal will use the extra revenue.

Football

• At Tuesday's media luncheon Tedford talked about limiting Quizz's production,  containing the force that is Stephen Paea, and Cal's issues on the road.  He was joined by Kevin Riley and Sean Cattouse.
• Mike Mohamed is a finalist for the Campbell Award (formerly the Draddy), better known as the Academic Heisman.  He'll fly out to NYC for the ceremony December 7th.
• Postpractice interviews with Shane Vereen (who talks about Quizz and Jahvid) and Cameron Jordan (who is funny as usual), as well as Tedford's Wednesday and Thursday reports.
• Oregon State's matchup against Cal's front seven and whether or not Good Cal shows up are features in Ted Miller's "What to Watch" this week.
• Wilner posts his Pac-10 power rankings and bowl likelihood.  Cal is sixth in the rankings while Wilner anticipates the Bears will finish with 7 wins and easily become bowl-eligible.
• Oregon State has to improve its running game if it wants a strong finish in the conference.  With Cal's defense coming to town, Mike Riley knows this is a tough weekend to turn the running game around.
• Riley isn't as excited to play in his home state as he has been in recent years, mostly because he views the game like any other--as an opportunity to win, and because his family travels well to his games.  Quizz says he's looking forward to getting back on track to achieve his personal goal of 1,800 yards.  Cal's guards are excited for a rematch against Stephen Paea after he beat them up last year.
• Talking about having a breakout game and having a strong second half of the season, Jacquizz Rodgers is looking forward to this weekend's game.  The Cal defense has responded with extra motivation to limit his production.  If this matchup is the defense's midterm, Clancy has his guys studying hard.
• Saturday's matchup will feature two of the conferences best running backs.  If Vereen outduels Quizz, he might get more recognition outside the conference.
• The 2010 Beavers aren't the 2009 Beavers.  The defense is 119th in the country and the passing attack is 8th in the conference.  Naturally, the offense has focused on Quizz (especially since James Rodgers' injury) and Pendergast's defense will have to shut him down if Cal wants to notch a win in Corvallis.
• Despite OSU's dismal defensive statistics, Jeff Tedford isn't looking past their defense.
• Both Cal and Oregon State are looking for consistency this week.
• Climbing and falling all year, Cal's stock is once again rising in Ted Miller's Pac-10 Stock Report.
• Glenn Dickey calls out critics of Cal's coaching staff--particularly the armchair coaches with limited knowledge of the game.
• Cal sits at sixth in the Daily Cal's Pac-10 power rankings.
• Cal-Washington State will be televised by Comcast Sports Net California.  The game is scheduled to kick off at 1pm on November 6th.
• Dwight Roberson has emerged as OSU's leading linebacker, which is crucial after that unit graduated several talented players over the last few years.
• Avinash breaks down the Pac-10 football conference title scenarios at SB Nation.