California Golden Bears vs San Diego State Aztecs

Cal has had extra time to prepare for this one after ripping Hawaii in the opener two weeks ago 51-31, in Australia. Pass-happy Coach Sonny Dykes has this program moving in the right direction as QB Davis Webb threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score. Khalfani Muhammad had 94 yards rushing and one touchdown, and Chad Hansen had 14 receptions for 160 yards and two scores. QB Webb is no newcomer: He played in 23 games with 14 starts over three seasons at Texas Tech and has career totals of 5,557 yards and 46 touchdowns. San Diego State steps-up in competition after an easy win over UNH last week. The Aztecs have some uncertainty at quarterback with Christian Chapman as well as in the receiving corps. The Aztecs are 4-12 ATS against the Pac-12 and 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 non-conference games. Cal beat SDSU 35-7 last year, as the Aztecs vaunted ground game struggled with 3.5 yards per carry, while Cal ran for 164 yards and passed for 321. Grab the rested Pac-12 dog and play Cal.

The Cal Bears allowed 42 points per game last year when they faced an FBS opponent. Despite that they finished at 5-7, and would have been a Bowl team if not for a Hail Mary completion vs. Arizona. The Bears hung in games with an offense that scored 40 per game, and this year they should be at least as good if not better on offense. They were projected to have 11 starters back on defense last year, but by game five of last year, they had just three left due to a rash of injuries. This season, they have much better players, much better depth, and the defense should improve to a level in which their offense makes a difference in many more games. San Diego State has been to five straight Bowl games, having good seasons, but not spectacular ones. They have a new QB, a transfer from Kentucky, who has had trouble staying on the field. I think Cal is going to be a big surprise this season, and have the most draftable QB in the country, and a vastly improved defense with more depth, needed because the offense plays and scores fast. This game fits a momentum angle which is 96-31 ATS, and has not had a losing season since 1996. Make the play on Cal.