Who: #11 Texas Longhorns (2-0) vs. California Golden Bears (1-1)
When: Saturday, September 17th 2016 – 9:30 PM (CST)
Where: Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium (ESPN)
Odds: Texas -8
The Good:
The California offense is still rolling with Texas Tech transfer Davis Webb in the driver seat. The Bears are fifth in the country in yards per game, and second in pass yards per game. Webb is averaging 480 yards per game through the air, and he has a 3/1 touchdown to interception ratio. Sophomore wide out Chad Hansen is the big play threat in the Bears passing attack. Hansen is averaging 175 yards per game, and he has three touchdowns on the year. The Bears also have an effective rushing game, though they don’t show a strong dedication to running the ball on a consistent basis.
The Bad:
The California defense has been pretty awful against substandard competition. Though they were able to pull off a twenty point victory over Hawaii in week one, the leaks in the unit were evident as they struggled to get the Rainbow Warriors off of the field. The wheels came off in week two against San Diego State. The Aztecs totaled 463 yards including 334 on the ground in a victory over the Golden Bears. Through two games the California defense is giving up an average of 473 total yards and 291 rushing yards. That could spell disaster against a team with a power running attack the caliber of Texas.
The Uncertain:
The only advantage Cal might have is the fact that they are playing a young team in their first road game with a late start time. While this game should have fireworks, the California defense will be overmatched by an emerging Texas offense. The Bears are also young at the skill positions, and they don’t have many proven playmakers outside of Hansen.
What’s at Stake:
The Bears could really use a big win over a top 15 team to get their season back on track. Their offense is built for exciting highlights, but their defense isn’t going to help them in any aspect of the season. A strong performance against the Texas offense could build some confidence going forward. The Longhorns would love to keep this train rolling as they try to build momentum going into the toughest part of their schedule. While this once looked like a tough trap game, they are now expected to win this matchup. They could forfeit all of the momentum they’ve built both on the field and in recruiting if they stumble in the Bay area on Saturday night.
