So after looking at our schedule, I would feel pretty happy with a 8-4 season. I nearly took the plunge and went with 9-3, but despite being back home at Memorial and getting seven beautiful games there, I had to restrain myself. If I were being realistic, I'd say 7-5, but I knew I wouldn't be happy with 7-5 and would just be telling myself that to comfort me in the dark nights.

I'd be satisfied with 8-4 (and maybe 7-5). What say you and why? Comment away!

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Difficult schedule, second worst in the conference next to UW: 12 games up, 12 games down. No bye week in perhaps the most balanced and competitive conference in the country, and there's a chance we miss out on the two worst teams in the Pac-12. Awesome. It's a good thing we're at home a lot!

Cal is heavy underdogs in at least two games: USC and Oregon. Cal will be decent underdogs against Ohio State, then have to play USC the week thereafter. Picking us to go 9-3 would mean Cal would probably have to win seven of its last eight games. They haven't pulled off a string like that in six years.

Cal will be underdogs at home in the Big Game, and on top of that has to deal with Mike Leach the week before and Utah's defense the week after. There are really no gimmees in the Pac-12 anymore, and this schedule is unforgiving.

I like our offense and I like our defense. I just don't love them. Replacing six starters on defense, five starters on offense, and your punter and kicker is a lot to ask for a team that needs experience and talent on every unit. It's not that I don't like the talent coming in, but I'm not sure the Bears have the talent or requisite pro-style experience quite yet in place.

Berkelium97: First off, you expect Stanford to be favored in the Big Game? They will be coming off a brutal four-game stretch: home vs. USC, at UW, vs. Arizona, and at Notre Dame. I can see them dropping two or three of those. I would be pretty surprised if they had a better record than we do when we face off in the Big Game.

In order for me to be satisfied with the season, the Bears need to start off with two solid wins to set up the Ohio State showdown. This is probably the biggest game for Tedford since Tennessee in 2007. I believe the Bears have the tools to beat an untested tOSU, but I can accept a tough, competitive loss. We cannot go into halftime down 35-0 or 42-0. The Bears need to show toughness and poise on the road.

I can deal with a blowout loss to USC. Everyone is going to suffer one of those this season.

Then the season gets interesting. Cal has 6 winnable games in a row before the Ducks come to town. I'll be pleased if we go 5-1 down the stretch, with the most probable loss coming from a trip to Salt Lake City.

I would be thrilled if they finally pull an upset against the Ducks, but I can accept a close, competitive game. The Bears should then go to Corvallis and deliver a loss to the Beavs.

Overall, I think we can go 9-3, but I'll be satisfied with 8-4.

It is just as important that the Bears stay competitive in every single game. We made some major strides last season and kept fighting in every single game while avoiding the uncharacteristic blowout losses we saw in 2009 and 2010. I was very relieved that none of our games last season were over after the first or second quarter.

Like Avinash, I'm satisfied with an 8-4 season where every loss is competitive.

Kodiak: A successful season: