Preliminary Holiday Bowl projections

Looks like Cal is slightly favored.

USA Today: “California”

The Holiday Bowl is almost always a good show, and this should be no different. Each team averages more than 400 yards of offense (two of 19 teams nationally to do so), and there will be plenty of chances for highlights from Cal RB Marshawn Lynch, Cal WR DeSean Jackson, Texas A&M QB Stephen McGee, Texas A&M RB Jorvorskie Lane … and more.

ESPN: “Bowl Predictions: Can You Beat The Schwab?”

One of the most interesting bowl games and both closed 1-2 in final three games. Slight edge to Jeff Tedford’s team. Schwab’s Pick: 27-20, Cal.

FOX Sports: “Ranking the bowl games”

10. The Pac-10 is overdue for a good Holiday Bowl performance having lost four of the last five, while Cal will try to erase memories of the last time it played in San Diego losing to Texas Tech 45-31 in 2004. The Golden Bears get a ton of hype with not many big wins to back it up, while Texas A&M is gunning for its first 10-win season since 1998 and prove that the Dennis Franchione era is truly headed in the right direction.

Stars of the show:
1. Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
2. DeSean Jackson, WR, California
3. Jorvorskie Lane, RB, Texas A&M

Initial prediction: California 34 … Texas A&M 31