Is Candlestick Bear Territory? A CGB Discussion About The Cal-Fresno State Game

[We're starting the pre-season with a look at our first opponent Fresno State.  We also talked with Matt over at Red Wave Central, a Fresno State site knowledgeable about the bulldogs.  He provides his thoughts at the end.  Enjoy!]

TwistNHook:  On September 3, 2011, an interesting matchup in an interesting location occurs.  Cal takes on Fresno State in Candlestick Park.  Technically, it is a neutral site game, although the fandom will probably skew towards Cal.  I cannot remember the last time Cal had a neutral site game.

When people think of Fresno State, they think of Pat "The Mustache" Hill and his intensely aggressive mentality.  The Bulldogs will be amped up to take on a Pac-12 team.  What do all y'all think about this game and the Fresno State University Bulldogs in 2011?

NorCalNick:  2010 wasn't a vintage Fresno St. team as the Bulldogs lost three times in the WAC and got blown out by a bad Ole Miss team and by Northern Illinois in the Humanitarian Bowl.  But they did continue their 'giant killing' success with wins over Cincinnati and Illinois.

Of course, the Bearcats and Illini were hardly the best competition BCS conferences had to offer last year.  But Illinois did manage to reach bowl eligibility and finished 7-6, which is more than you could say for Cal last year.  So clearly Cal needs to be wary.

OhioBear:  Cal's last neutral site game:  2009 Poinsettia Bowl (lost to Utah)
Cal's last neutral site regular season game: 2003 season opener vs. Kansas State in Kansas City (lost)

LeonPowe:  Hey I drove to that game in Kansas city! Reggie Robertson started and we hung tough with k state

HydroTech:  I definitely think FSU will be amped to take on Cal.  It's a big game for them.  To Cal, it's not exactly a huge game, but if they don't treat it as one then they can certainly lose the game.  FSU is used to taking on big time opponents.  It's what they do.  While as of late they haven't been as good at it as they were 5 years ago or so, they're always a dangerous team.  Pat Hill will get his boys ready to take on Cal, and I can only hope the Cal players don't overlook this FSU team. 

TwistNHook: Obviously the focus for Cal fans will be on how the offense performs.  The offense has not been at the standard Tedfordian level in some time  now and there is growing concern.

Fortunately for Cal, FSU just lost some key defensive talent:

The emphasis on defense comes at a time when the Bulldogs are undergoing a shift on defense and have lost three of their best defensive players -- WAC Defensive Player of the Year Chris Carter, linebacker Ben Jacobs and safety Lorne Bell.

What is interesting is that David Carr's younger brother will be the signal caller for the Bulldogs this season:

QB Derek Carr -- The brother of former Fresno State star and No. 1 NFL Draft pick David Carr, Derek Carr will be the starting quarterback next season. Fresno State fans are hoping he's worth the wait. Carr played sparingly behind starter Ryan Colburn in 2009 and then redshirted in 2010, leaving him with three years of eligibility.

He has minimal experience going into the game.  Hopefully, Coach Lupoi's crushing DLine can grind him into the turf and keep the potentially explosive bulldog offense from ever getting going.

Kodiak:  The biggest issue with playing Fresno State is that Pat Hill always instills toughness and a don't-back-down-from-anyone attitude in his team.  If the Cal players aren't ready to get hit in the mouth, roughed up, and blindsided with borderline dirty play, it could be a long day.  We have to be ready to match their physicality right from kickoff.  Otherwise, we could find ourselves blitzkrieged and cede to them all the emotional momentum.

I hope it's not close because they have the vastly superior field goal kicker.  Although we have the better punter, punting ain't winning if the game is on the line and someone needs to split the uprights.

TwistNHook:  Red Wave Central has this note about a FSU DLineman:

Defensive tackle Logan Harrell, who racked up 10.5 sacks last year, was named to both the Outland and Nagurski Trophy lists. Without Chris Carter’s presence on the outside, however, Harrell is likely to find it tougher to get to the quarterback.

So, Harrell is a man to keep an eye on.

Berkelium97:  This year's opener is a very intriguing matchup.  It will be the type of game that defines this season, and may very well have important implications for Tedford's tenure at Cal.  After all the criticism following last year's debacle, Tedford and the Bears need to make a strong showing to cast aside any doubts that he has "peaked."  The return of Michaczik and Kiesau as well as other important changes among position coaches should greatly improve some glaring weaknesses that have emerged over the past couple seasons.  If the Bears come out and make a strong showing, they could be on their way to a 3-0 start and a solid bounce back from last year's losing season.  If they lose this game, it could be a sign of a long and painful season...one where we could be a hasty offseason decision away from saying goodbye to Coach Tedford.

Of course, I believe the Bears have a big talent advantage, but you can never count out a Pat Hill team.  Those Bulldogs will do their best to punch the Bears in the mouth all day.  Cal can (and should) win, but it will be a tough matchup.  Fresno State's loss of talent on defense is encouraging, as is the fact that they will roll out a new quarterback who will be under siege all day thanks to Coach Pendergast.

TwistNHook: Score predictions?  Who is going to win?

Berkelium97:  I'm expecting a defensive battle where special teams could be a wild card (ALAMAR!--it would be great to be on the other side of an Alamar Special for once).  Bears hold on to win 20-13.

OhioBear: In 1995 at Memorial Stadium, Cal led Fresno State 24-12 in the 4th quarter after Na'il Benjamin turned a short pass from Pat Barnes into an 84-yard touchdown strike.  But Fresno State rallied to win, 25-24.  

Avinash:  100-0 Cal, the score we've won every opening home game by the past decade under Tedford.

OhioBear: Not so fast, Avi.  This game is on a neutral site.  And we are 0-1 in season openers at neutral sites under Tedford.  (Lost to Kansas State in Kansas City in 2003.) 

Avinash:  Kansas City is a neutral site for Kansas State? Did all the Wildcat fans have to walk from Manhattan?

Fine then, lope off half the points. 50-0 Cal.

OhioBear:  Don't be silly.  I think they rode Segways.  

TwistNHook:  Just like the Stick is a neutral game for Cal!

HydroTech:  I'm gonna say 27-17 Cal. 

NorCalNick:  I think the Cal defense will hold down a decent Fresno St. offense reasonably well.  The game will likely come down to how well Cal's iffy offense does against Fresno St.'s rebuilding defense, which lost quite a few starters from last years squad.   If Cal can move the ball reasonably well, or if they get a few big turnovers or defensive touchdowns, then Cal cruises.  If that doesn't happen it's an ugly, low scoring battle the whole way.  I'll split the difference. How about 24-13, Cal?

Matt at Red Wave Central:  You could argue that Fresno State in 2010 was just like vintage Fresno State:  The 'Dogs have won either 8 or 9 games in eight of the last ten years, and have lost at least two conference games in each of those seasons.  The lack of a WAC title grates on fans here in Fresno and now, with Boise State in another conference, Pat Hill is under a lot of pressure to deliver a conference crown.  A win against Cal to open 2011 would bring a lot of goodwill to a coach that's been much-maligned by local critics.

Kodiak mentioned WR Devon Wylie midway through the piece.  He and Jalen Saunders, the other returning starter (and last year's #2 in catches and yards), can fly, and behind them junior Rashad Evans will be joined in 2011 by Victor Dean and Josh Harper, two redshirt freshmen that fans in the Valley expect big things from in 2011.  You guys might also consider it noteworthy that Dean is the tallest WR in Fresno State history (6-5 or 6-6, depending on what you read) and Harper had originally committed to Cal before changing his mind to join the Bulldogs.