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The Golden Bears opened up as double-digit favorites over Washington State, with the line at around 12.5 points, but the line has now moved up to 14.5 points. But who really cares what Vegas thinks? It's hot and sleazy and gross.
The Golden Bears haven't beaten the Cougars by more than 14.5 points since 2011 in AT&T Park when it was Jeff Tedford vs. Paul Wulff and Cal won 30–7. In 2012, we won by 14; close, but no cigar!
The Golden Bears are currently 4–0 (AND THE ONLY UNDEFEATED TEAM IN THE PAC-12 NORTHHHHH) with road wins over the Texas Longhorns and that team up north that shall not be named. The Cougars are 2–1 with a loss to FCS's Portland State, but got to enjoy a nice bye week to rest up and study our team.
Cal was actually favored once in conference play last season by over two touchdowns against Mike MacIntyre and Colorado, finishing around a 14-point spread. Cal ended up going to double overtime after proving incapable of stopping Sefo Lifuau and barely escaping that one, so we'll see if this ends the right way this time.
Cal has had a lot of trouble with Mike Leach's Air Raid, surrendering 44 points in 2013 and 59 points in 2014. The Cougars set all sorts of passing records last season in a game I still don't know how they lost.
Cal has proven they can win football games against competent Power 5 squads. Can they take the next step and close out their wins? Give us your early thoughts on the game!