Golden Nuggets: Cal-Colorado Predictions

Go here or keep scrolling down to discuss tonight's riveting matchup between Auburn and Mississippi St.

Since this is a matchup between two Pac-12 teams, people are taking in interest in this week's game.  This means we have more than one prediction today!

Here's Uncle Ted's take:

California 30, Colorado 21: Colorado looks like a much improved team from 2009, but the Bears should be able to prevail at home. Wonder how Act II of Cal wide receiver Keenan Allen's freshman year will go? 

David Ubben, ESPN's Big 12 writer, also predicts a Cal win.

California 27, Colorado 20: The Buffaloes are getting better, and looked good on both sides of the ball last week. Just not good enough to go on the road and beat a good Pac-10 team yet. 

All four experts at Rivals predict a Cal victory.

NBCSports' John Tamahana picks Cal to win 24-19.

Attendance prediction:  Last week I thought I knew better than the models and guessed a turnout around 65k (the models predicted between 50 and 55k.  Attendance turned out to be 58,040, much closer to the model than I expected.  Ai! Outsmarted by my own creations!  This week the models predict 57,283, 63,342, and 63,757.  Due to the combination of variables, I have the most confidence in the last model.  So let's guess that 63,757 fans will show up at Memorial this Saturday.

After the jump Colorado coach Dan Hawkins talks about this week's matchup, Darian Hagan and Chris Tompek-Guarnero prepare for an especially meaningful game, Ted Miller talks about the best restaurants in Berkeley, and more.

Football

• Ted Miller solicits opinions from Cal fans about the best restaurants in Berkeley.
• Ted Miller says Cal's stock is rising (and so is that of Pac-10 receivers, including Keenan Allen).
• Scout.com wraps up the Tuesday media luncheon.
• Colorado coach Dan Hawkins talks a little about the upcoming game against Cal.  Hawkins and his team have already begun to focus on how to defend Keenan Allen.  NFL hopefuls Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown will face a tough challenge defending Allen.  Colorado expects about 7,000 of their fans to show up to this weekend's game.
• Here's a sample of what Hawkins said at Tuesday's press conference.
• Playing Colorado has extra meaning for Chris Tompek-Guarnero, who was committed to the Buffs until they fired Gary Barnett.
• Darian Hagan will be playing his father's team this weekend.  Darian Hagan Sr. was a brilliant quarterback for the Buffs in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and he currently works as the running backs coach for Colorado.  Hagan Sr. has never seen one of his son's games due to their conflicting schedules.  This Saturday will be the first time he watches his son play live.  Denver Post profiles Hagan Jr and how he didn't exactly follow his father's footsteps.
• Defensive back Travis Sandersfeld will start for the first time in his career. He replaces Parker Orms who suffered a season-ending knee injury.  In another shakeup of the Colorado depth chart, Mike Iltis will start at left guard over Ethan Adkins.  Iltis impressed the coaches in last week's opener against Colorado State.
• Once again, Kevin Riley's completion percentage made Ted Miller's "what to watch" list this week.  Riley and his receivers will face a good challenge against Colorado's talented secondary.
• Keenan Allen has captured the attention of nearly everyone who follows Cal, including Ted Miller who managed to mention his name 13 times in this article.
• Matt Summers-Gavin will play on Saturday at either tackle or guard.  Jarrett Sparks is a gametime decision (ankle).