Cal currently eight-point underdogs to North Carolina

Remember that brutal 2013 season? When Cal was underdogs almost wire-to-wire?

Barring a strong start, a season like that might be in the works for the 2017 California Golden Bears.

Cal looks like it will start the season with a very favorable line. The Bears currently stand as only 8 point underdogs to North Carolina, according to the early oddsmakers. If the game was at Memorial Stadium, you’d have to imagine the line would only be around 1 or 2, perhaps even a pick’em.

Cal currently does not have a preliminary win total set for the season. But plenty of their opponents do. And based on those over/unders, you can imagine Cal will be underdogs plenty this season.

• USC Trojans: 9.5 wins.
• Washington Huskies: 9.5 wins.
• Stanford Cardinal: 8.5 wins.
• Oregon Ducks: 8 wins.
• Colorado Buffaloes: 7.5 wins.
• Washington State Cougars: 7.5 wins.
• North Carolina Tar Heels: 7 wins.
• UCLA Bruins: 6 wins.
• Arizona Wildcats: 5.5 wins.

Nine Cal opponents are likely to be bowl-eligible or close to that, and that’s not even counting Ole Miss (who could end up anywhere)! No wonder ESPN thinks we have the toughest college football schedule in the nation. If we get to a bowl game, we’ll have earned it.

You’d also have to guess that the Cal over/under will likely settle around 4 to 5 wins, based on where North Carolina currently sits and those other win totals you see popping up from our opponents. It will be burdensome work to get to .500 this season.

Cal fans, your thoughts?