Breaking News! CGB has learned from inside sources in the Athletic Department that the Golden Bears and Longhorns will tangle in Berkeley and Austin in a few years (alright, it's six years away, but hey, can't come fast enough!). The official announcement should come tomorrow or Saturday, but it has been wrapped up. I'm sure that gives Cal fans plenty of time to get their Mack Brown Hate on, although he might be long retired by the time we get there.
Should be more details about that future stuff, but let's get ourselves back in the present. Onto Saturday predictions.
Adam Rittenberg, ESPN's Big Ten blogger, predicts a 35-23 Cal victory.
I could see Cal starting slow, but the Bears shouldn't be nearly as flat as they were last year against Maryland. Minnesota has done some nice things on defense, but Cal's offense seems just too powerful. The Gophers haven't found offensive playmakers aside from wide receiver Eric Decker and aren't able to keep up with Cal on the scoreboard.
Our good friend Ted Miller predicts a 35-21 Cal victory.
This game should make Cal fans nervous, if only because the Bears have not of late been the same team on the road. Minnesota is experienced, with 17 starters back from a crew that went 7-6 in 2008 and the Gophers are playing in their new stadium in front of what figures to be a raucous crowd. Still, you look at Cal's roster and the Bears have such a speed advantage it's hard to pick against them.
Bruce Feldman predicts a 30-13 Cal win.
Rick Pizzo and Chris Martin of the Big Ten Network both predict Cal victories, 31-14, 35-13.
After the jump we have football injury updates, Memorial Stadium renovation news, questions about why Tedford left his starters in so long against EWU, previews of all Cal sports events for this weekend, and much more.
- Brian Holley still isn't practicing due to a concussion. Backup fullback Will Kapp sat out practice with a sprained ankle, but Tedford said it was a precaution to make sure he'd be able to play Saturday if Holley isn't cleared to play.
- Various Cal administrators will tour Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium Friday morning to hear about lessons learned during the recent renovation. Meanwhile, UC Regents approve financing for the Memorial Stadium renovation.
- Adam Rittenberg profiles Gopher KB Nate Triplett.
- Ted Miller on the Bears' recent road woes.
- While the CCTimes looks ahead to the Bears' next five games, players and coaches remain focused on each game one at a time. Eddie Young says "The next game is the most important game. (The four-game stretch) could possibly be (important) later down the road. But we have to beat Minnesota first."
- GopherSports.com, Minnesota's athletic department's website, interviews JO.
- Rob Calonge of the SFExaminer asks Tedford why he left his starters in until late in the second half against EWU.
- Cal-transfer and current San Jose St quarterback Kyle Reed has been benched in favor of junior Jordan LaSecla.
- No. 7 women's soccer travels to Moraga to take on St Mary's on Friday. CalBears interviews sophomore midfielder Zulma Munoz. No. 7/8 men's soccer travels to San Francisco to take on San Francisco on Friday and hosts Santa Clara on Sunday.
- No. 13 women's volleyball hosts Santa Clara and San Francisco at this weekend's Pac-10/WCC tournament. Daily Cal interviews senior defensive specialist/libero Kristen Kathan.
- 2009 NCAA national champions women's swimming and diving open the season this weekend at Cal Poly SLO.
- Women's field hockey travels to the East Coast this weekend to take on American on Friday, Delaware on Sunday, and NCAA national champion Maryland on Monday.
- No. 3 men's water polo goes down to The Farm this weekend for the sixteen team NorCal Invitational in Palo Alto.