Golden Nuggets: Who's favored in the Cal-WSU game?

Finally, the first evenly-matched game of 2013 for Cal. (How does it feel to know we're seen as equals with the Cougs?!) This means means the pundits have no idea who's gonna win.

Athlon Sports has four writers predicting the winner and the largest margin of victory was 8 points for the Golden Bears. They also have a preview of the game, which has this disheartening fact:

Cal is leading the league in plays at a ridiculous 95.0 snaps per game on offense. Washington State is third in the league with 349 offensive snaps in 2013. Yet, both offenses have struggled to score relative to the rest of the Pac-12 - they rank 10th and 11th in scoring offense.

The emphasis is mine because hooooooly poop that's not so good. Can we blame it on the tough defenses we've played?

Meanwhile, our good friends Uncle Ted and Cousin Kev of ESPN picked the Cougars to conquer Cal. That's still a good omen for Cal, right...?

Gemmell: The Bears, though not wanting for talent, are in a bad spot defensively. Washington State's offense has been hit and miss, but when it hits, it hits hard. The Bears should be able to score some points, but Washington State's defense has kept it in games most of the year. That should be the case again in this teacher-versus-student showdown of Mike Leach and Sonny Dykes. Washington State 42, California 31.

Miller: I wonder how the Cal defense might have looked with DE Brennan Scarlett, DT Mustafa Jalil and SS Avery Sebastian in every game this year? That's three A-list starters out of action, and CB Kameron Jackson (ankle) is questionable. The Cougars are better on defense, so in a battle of pass-happy teams, that's where this one turns. (It also would have been easier to pick an upset if not for a sudden QB controversy). Washington State 38, California 35.

Hunter Hewitt gives us an update on the Vegas line:

Cal is a 1.5 point underdog against Washington State on Saturday. Over/under for total score set at 66

— Hunter Hewitt (@HunterHewitt) October 2, 2013

Cal Athletics

• The Chancellor's Reception honored our national champions

Soccer

• Cal is the only school in the country with undefeated men's (no. 1) and women's (no. 11/15) teams
• The undefeated, no. 11/15 women's team will be facing both Arizona schools in Berkeley this weekend

Men's Water Polo

• Saturday morning will feature an intense showdown of no. 4 Cal vs. no. 3 Pacific, which will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks

Men's Basketball

• Ricky Kreklow is looking to make an impact and rebound (I'm such a comedy riot!) from a broken foot bone and an eye poke from practice

Women's Tennis

• The three Golden Bears at the ITA All-American Championships were unable to advance in the tournament

Women's Golf

• The Golden Bears have cracked the rankings at no. 17/25

Men's Golf

• Brandon Hagy is the Pac-12 Men's Golfer of the Month

Women's Swimming and Diving

• The freshmen--including one Missy Franklin--are looking forward to their home debut at Spieker Aquatics Complex

Football

• Offensive lineman Mark Brazinski is now excelling in grad school after earning two degrees in three years

• Oh, and Brazinski is also a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy--the Academic Heisman
• A preview of the WSU game from a statistical standpoint
• Athlon Sports's Pac-12 rankings has us holding steady at the bottom of the conference
• Hunter Hewitt has a new Know Your Enemy podcast for the Cougars. Oh wait. It's not a podcast. It's just a written Q&A because he's already started slacking!
• A look at the familiarity between our two programs--and that's not just the familiarity from sharing the Pac-12 basement--and a great quote from Special Teams Coordinator Mark Tommerdahl about restoring our reputation
• The renewed QB competition is benefiting both Zach Kline and Jared Goff
• Rob Likens discusses coaching at Cal:
  
  
• The defensive line is looking forward to facing a pure pocket passer; Cal will honor the late Coach Pete Elliott, who coached us to our last Rose Bowl appearance
• S Corman Craigie and RB Daniel Lasco are your Football Scholar-Athletes of the week
• Inside receiver Richard Rodgers will be a captain on Saturday
• Deadspin's all-team rankings has us slipping like a wet football...

Week	Cal's rank
Preseason	88
1	65
2	74
3	79
4	76
5	81

• Aaron Rodgers discusses living on the mean streets of Berkeley (YouTube)
• After mixed preseason success with the 49ers, Lavelle Hawkins may be joining Keenan Allen in San Diego
• The Chicago Bears are looking to make an all-Cal safety tandem by signing Sean Cattouse to join Chris Conte
• On a completely serious note, SBNation used Madden to ruin the Eagles defense, bulk up the Giants' run blocking, and give them the greatest running back committee in the NFL, which included Marshawn Lynch. Patrick Chung just gives up on the tackle so he doesn't get stiff-armed again.

via cdn1.sbnation.com

UC Berkeley news

• A light-hearted look at the explosion at the Berkeley campus. A black-out isn't going to stop Berkeley students from studying:

via i0.wp.com

More from California Golden Blogs:

• Cal vs. WSU: Goff & Jackson updates; Brazinski semifinalist for Campbell Trophy
• Know Your Enemy: Previewing the Washington State Offense
• Mark Bingham comes back to Bear Territory in 'The Rugby Player'
• Time for the fourth episode of The Drive
• Cal vs. Washington State: How confident are you in victory over WSU?