Cal hosts tough Arizona State in conference opener

Cal’s conference schedule begins on Saturday with #22-ranked Arizona State (3-0) at home, a real test to determine whether the Bears have learned lessons and made adjustments since Tennessee. With this game, we will see if Cal is a contender for the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth.

The game is getting a good look from many analysts and pundits who see this as a statement game for both teams. Arizona State is a tough team with a powerful west-coast offense and a greatly improved defense. Here are some interesting articles and points of view.

ESPN, “California tries to extend winning streak vs. Arizona State”:

The 21st-ranked Golden Bears look to extend their winning streak over the 22nd-ranked Sun Devils to four games when they meet in the Pac-10 Conference opener for both teams.

California, which has won four of the series’ last five games, last met Arizona State two years ago, when it posted a 27-0 victory here. The Sun Devils have not defeated the Bears since a 30-10 triumph in Tempe in 2000.

ESPN, Top 25 Overview:

Since taking over the Arizona State program in 2001, Dirk Koetter is 0-10 in Pac-10 games played in the state of California (USC, UCLA, Cal and Stanford). Too late for the Sun Devils to make this a neutral-site game?

The Sports Network, “(22) Arizona State (3-0) at (21) California (2-1)”:

This game has the feel of a Pac-10 shootout. The top two passing teams in the conference will go toe-to-toe in what should be an entertaining offensive game throughout. The slight edge has to go to the Bears, who get this game at home and could grind things out a bit with Lynch on the ground.

Arizona Republic, “Tedford merits credit for rapid revival”:

Talk all you want about the Golden Bears’ skills players and explosive offense. Arizona State’s biggest hurdle when it visits Berkeley Saturday is coach Jeff Tedford, who spurred one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent college football history.

This is a mano-a-mano worthy of attention, as offensive gurus Tedford and Dirk Koetter aim to make the top of the Pac-10 Conference a USC-free zone.

RealFootball365, “The REAL Top 25 Weekly Review”:

So how prepared is ASU for a conference-opening day road game in Berkeley vs. No. 21 Cal? The Sun Devils have a win over Double-A Northern Arizona, one over the WAC’s Nevada Wolfpack, and now this road win over a hapless Colorado team. Meanwhile, Cal has the experience of a road ambush at Tennessee, a solid win over a fairly good Minnesota team, and last weekend’s pasting of a solid Double-A Portland State. This week’s game with Cal will be one of the most intriguing Pac-10 matchups in the young season.

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit:

The game I am most eager to see is the Pac-10 game between Arizona State and Cal. The Sun Devils’ defense has been pretty dominant, but they have yet to get on track offensively after their quarterback controversy between Rudy Carpenter and Sam Keller. Plus, ASU has yet to play a team the caliber of Cal.

Nate Longshore has established himself at quarterback after a rough start at Tennessee, and running back Marshawn Lynch should be back at 100 percent. Neither team can afford a loss if it wants to try to measure up with USC in the Pac-10 race.

ESPN’s Beano Cook:

Q: What’s your take on Cal v. Arizona State?
A: Well, when the season began, I said this, the Bears haven’t been to the Rose Bowl since the 1958 season. They haven’t won a Rose Bowl since the 1938 Rose Bowl. Everyone tells me that California will be good this year, but the Bears have to show it before I believe it. Cal should win this game, they’re playing at home. If they can’t win at home, then it will be a long season.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach:

Q: Do you see a Sun Devil victory over Cal?
A: It’s going to be a very interesting game. Would give the edge to the Sun Devils because of Rudy Carpenter, but Cal has rebounded pretty well from the bad loss at UT. Sun Devils better tackle better, however.

And finally, from Coach Jeff Tedford himself:

“Our guys are excited about getting into Pac 10 play. We like to be at home and are fortunate to play our last two games at home and to open up home against Arizona State because it is a very hard place to play at. We also understand that Arizona State is a great football team, very highly ranked and very explosive on offense and very solid on defense and one of the better teams in our conference.”