Cal moves to #8/AP, #9/Coaches, #8/BCS

With the win over UCLA (and losses by Tennessee to LSU and West Virginia to Louisville), Cal has moved up in the polls. All rankings bumped the Bears up 2 spots. The AP has Cal at #8, while the Coaches/Harris polls place Cal at #9, with the difference being Notre Dame placed in front of Cal in these polls. Meanwhile, this boost from the human polls has pushed Cal up 2 spots to #8 in the BCS standings, despite a hit in the computer rankings.

Cal keeps rolling with win over UCLA

Last night, the Bears kept their Pac-10 title hopes rolling with a solid win over UCLA, extending their winning streak to 8. While the Bruins made some impressive statistics and held on in the first half, Cal took over and finished with a nice victory.

Nate Longshore stepped it up, completing 20 of 24 passes for 3 touchdowns and also making a 21-yard scramble. Marshawn Lynch did not have gaudy stats but looked like a beast, tearing through tacklers to get 2 TD’s. Robert Jordan had a great day, grabbing 2 touchdowns as well. And, DeSean Jackson made the highlight reels with another punt return for a TD sprung free with a massive block by Thomas DeCoud.

Here is ESPN’s video recap of the game, followed by an extensive look at Cal’s performance by the ABC commentators.

Associated Press: “No. 10 California 38, UCLA 24”

From the two talented cousins to Tha Chosen 1, California’s playmakers took turns making life miserable for UCLA. Marshawn Lynch caught one of Nate Longshore’s three touchdown passes and ran for another score as No. 10 Cal won its eighth straight, 38-24 over the Bruins on Saturday night.

Robert Jordan had two touchdown catches and DeSean Jackson romped 72 yards on his school-record fourth TD punt return for the first-place Golden Bears (8-1, 6-0), who moved one big step closer to their first conference title since 1975.

ESPN: “Top 25 Overview”

It was over when… DeSean Jackson returned a punt 38 yards for a touchdown with just over two minutes left in the third quarter.
Gameball goes to… Nate Longshore. The Cal QB completed 20 of 24 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
Stat of the game… 4. Jackson’s punt return was his fourth, setting a school record in just 20 games.

Scout.com: “Bruins Fall to Cal, 38-24”

All the Bear units contributed to the win. Marshawn Lynch got yards when it counted, even if his statistics were not to his usual standard. Robert Jordan had his best game of the year. Nate Longshore was nearly perfect, and the defense came up with several big plays.

UCLA continued the “almost-but-not-quite” pattern they have established this year. They moved the ball up and down the field, but had trouble converting yards into points.

Contra Costa Times: “Brusin’ the Bruins”

With a full moon looming over Memorial Stadium on a clear Saturday night, a lightning bolt struck in the form of Cal’s Thomas DeCoud.

DeCoud’s teeth-shattering hit came late in the third quarter of the Golden Bears’ 38-24 victory over UCLA and not only crushed linebacker Korey Bosworth, but the Bruins’ hopes for an upset as well.

SF Chronicle: “It’s a big yellow taxi, and it’s running wild toward Pasadena”

You will know the kind of football you like by deciding which of these two plays was more influential in Cal’s 38-24 excision of UCLA on Saturday evening. Neither will tell you any more about whether the Golden Bears are fully prepped for the all-in game against USC in 13 days (or whether they’re going to wear their cornea-searing yellow uniforms for it), but epochal revelations like Rose Bowl invitations do tend to come in increments.

LA Times: “California tries to focus on present”

Their winning streak is more than two months now, not that the California Golden Bears are checking their calendars, but they surely know what’s on the schedule in just two weeks. That would be a showdown at the Coliseum with the USC Trojans, who just happened to be in the Bay Area on Saturday for a full-scale blowout at Stanford while Cal was administering a mini-blowout of UCLA.

…

What Longshore said afterward, when asked what he was thinking about, probably meant more. “Tucson, Tucson, Tucson,” he said. “Nothing but Arizona.”

SF Chronicle: “Longshore, man!”

Cal quarterback Nate Longshore pushed all the right buttons Saturday night in Berkeley.

Team, players get feature articles in media

ESPN’s Ivan Maisel has written a feature article (“Cal offense piling up points, yuks“) about the Cal team and its unique, fun chemistry. The article is currently on the front page of ESPN’s college football site.

The newest comedy club in the East Bay is open weekdays at Memorial Stadium. The performers go on the road a few Saturdays in the fall. The room usually seats 11, and your host, the quarterback of the No. 10 California Golden Bears, is Nate Longshore. Welcome to the Comedy Huddle.

It’s good to see the the guys have fun winning out there. There’s been quite a few more articles in the media about various players in the past week as well, many of which are out of SoCal.

Contra Costa Times:

• Cal QB passes test of strength (Longshore)
• Cal’s Hawkins sets himself an imposing goal: perfection (Lavelle Hawkins)
• Golden Bears have a Hawaiian connection

Los Angeles Times:

• He’s the Lynch-pin of California’s offense (Marshawn Lynch)
• He’s not so tough (Erik Robertson)
• Quite a catch for the bears (DeSean Jackson)

Los Angeles Daily News:

• In the driver’s seat (Marshawn Lynch)

Saturday’s matchup: UCLA

vs.

Cal’s annual match-up with its little brother UCLA is tomorrow, underneath the night lights and ABC TV cameras. The weather will be partly cloudy, at crisp 56°F.

The Bears are coming off a bye week and a 7-week winning streak, while the Bruins have lost the last 3. Here are a few thoughts about the game:

ESPN‘s Bruce Feldman: “Picks”

No. 10 Cal 31, UCLA 14: Quietly the Bruins have really improved on D — especially against the run — under first-year UCLA D-coordinator DeWayne Walker. But I think the wheels are starting to come off the wagon for the Bruins, who have now lost three games in row. Expect a big day for the Golden Bears’ skill guys. Thing that has me sold: The Bruins are sinking.

Sports Network: “Pac-10 leading California hosts UCLA”

California has finally reached the pinnacle of the Pac-10, but must remain focused, especially against a UCLA team hungry for some success. UCLA’s defense may cause some problems early for Cal, but in the end, the Golden Bears’ skill positions will provide the difference in the game. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: California 34, UCLA 20

Scout.com: “Bruins Visit Berkeley as Home Stretch Begins”

Cal will win if: They prevent the Bruins from running the ball. If UCLA can’t run they have to pass, and they do not have the weapons to compete with the Bears in the track meet that would result.
UCLA will win if: They can run the ball steadily and productively, turning yardage into scores and shortening the game. They Bruins have had trouble getting points on the board, and dominating between the 20s – if they manage that – won’t do the job against the Bears. If they can also keep Longshore, Lynch and company off the field, they have a lucky-puncher’s chance.
Prediction: UCLA is traditionally a formidable opponent, but the scheduling gods smiled on the Bears this year as they come off a bye week and get a Bruin team on the downslide. Cal 38, UCLA 17

ESPN‘s Ted Miller: “Pac-10 Notebook”

Tedford shouldn’t need much to motivate his players too much against the Bruins, and not only because the Rose Bowl is at stake. Last year, 10th-ranked Cal led No. 18 UCLA 40-28 midway through the fourth quarter before yielding 19 unanswered points to lose 47-40. The Bears surrendered 299 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns to Maurice Drew, including an 81-yard punt return for a score. Cal lost despite rolling up 545 yards of offense, including 330 yards rushing.

USA Today: “Weekend Preview”

No. 11 California couldn’t have asked for a more productive bye week. It’s alone atop the Pac-10 standings thanks to Southern California’s loss, and RB Marshawn Lynch was able to rest his sore ankles. He should be at full speed to help QB Nate Longshore. UCLA DE Justin Hickman must pick up the pressure. The Bruins have lost three in a row. Opening-day starter Ben Olson (knee) has returned to practice, but Pat Cowan will stay at QB another week. Bears CB Daymeion Hughes has swiped seven passes and broken up six more.

Eric’s prediction: 45-20, Cal.

Steve’s prediction: 49-24, Cal

UCLA coverage map

Here is the coverage map for Saturday’s matchup. While national coverage of the game would be nice, this will provide good exposure for recruits, as most are on this side of the country anyway.

Bowl predictions unanimous: Cal to the Rose

The bowl predictions of the major news media outlets now agree: Cal is headed for the Rose Bowl. The list:

• ESPN
• CBS Sports
• Fox Sports
• Scout’s College Football News

It is great to see confidence from these pundits, but hopefully the team and fans are not setting their sights on Pasadena too soon. There is still a long road to the end of the season.

Cal in bye week favorable in rankings

The bye week was kind to Cal as the Bears moved up in the polls.

With Virginia Tech’s upset of Clemson and greater confidence in Cal due to USC’s loss, the team has moved up to #10 from #12 in the AP poll (leapfrogging overrated Notre Dame in the process) and moving up one slot to #11 from #12 in the Coaches Poll.

In the BCS standings, Cal remains at #10. However, the computer rankings now place the Bears at #3 (1/3 of the calculation) with the strength of schedule of the Bears.

The Daily Cal has a short article with both sides of the argument whether the USC loss was good for Cal. Take a look.

Cal moves into top slot of Pac-10 standings

With USC falling to Oregon State 33-31 today, Cal has emerged as the leader in the Pac-10 conference standings.

USC on our mind

Despite Cal’s road game at USC weeks away, people are talking more than ever about the showdown on November 18 in the Coliseum.

ESPN’s Bruce Feldman: “Most intriguing games remaining”

3. Cal at USC Nov. 18: Jeff Tedford is the only coach in the Pac-10 who has been able to beat Pete Carroll in the last three seasons and this is looking like his best Bear team yet. Meanwhile, this is Carroll’s shakiest Trojan squad in that time. Skepticism about this Trojan team grows each week. Just today, ASU QB Rudy Carpenter called the Trojans the third-best team in the Pac-10, behind Cal and Oregon.

USC’s long home-winning streak has been threatened a lot of late, but the challenge will be whether the Trojans’ suspect secondary can handle all of the Bears’ skill talent? Keep an eye on Cal’s electrifying WR-PR DeSean Jackson. An L.A. native, he was one of the first recruits to snub the Trojans amid USC’s great run.

Washington Head Coach Tyrone Willingham via the SJ Mercury’s Jon Wilner:

“In a game of that nature, I think it’s going to come down to the play of the quarterbacks,” Willingham said, refering to Cal sophomore Nate Longshore and USC junior John David Booty.

“USC has a pretty good duo at running back, and Cal, I think their combo is pretty good and might even be a hair stronger with Marshawn (Lynch). I think the receiving corps from both groups are good and talented, and by that time, USC is probably thinking and wishing (Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith) will be healthy and rolling again.

“If all that comes to pass, it will be an exciting game, and I think it will come down on the quarterbacks.”

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit:

Q: What do you think Cal’s chances are of beating USC?

A: Currently, the way the two teams are playing, I think Cal has a very good chance of competing with and beating USC. I think for the first 6 or 7 games of the season, despite Cal losing in embarrassing fashion at Tennessee, they’re the better team at this point. And they’ve got not only playmakers on offense, but a defense that is capable of being dominating as well. But fortunately for USC, this game against Cal will not be played for another four games, so they still have time to improve and reach their potential. I keep saying that Cal is better than USC RIGHT NOW, because by the time Nov. 18 rolls around and USC’s youth has a chance to continue to gain experience, they might be a completely different looking team by that point in the season. But if they keep playing the way they have the last four weeks, Cal definitely can beat them.

Tucson Citizen (AZ): “Four huge games coming up this month”

Nov. 18, Cal at USC – The nightcap of a great day of college football, with this one likely deciding the Pac-10 title.

Daily Herald (WA): “Pac-10 bowl scenarios abound”

The Pac-10 championship – and a spot in the Rose Bowl – will come down to the Nov. 18 game between the Trojans and the Golden Bears. Cal is everyone’s favorite, but I’m not convinced. It’s a very good team, but I still give the edge to USC, which I think goes undefeated through the regular season. The young Trojans will continue to get better every week and will be Rose Bowl-bound.

USA Today: “Five games may set stage for college football’s national title”

California at Southern California on Nov. 18, a day featuring two games that could decide the national title matchup. After stumbling badly vs. Tennessee, the No. 11 Golden Bears have looked like the best team in the Pacific-10. A win against the No. 2 Trojans will prove that.

ESPN’s Ivan Maisel (see his bowl predictions with Cal and Michigan in the Rose):

Q: I assume you believe Cal will beat USC … Cal struggled against both Washington schools and its ok (sic), but an unbeaten USC team gets no respect from you. I remember another team that one the NC a few years ago that won alot (sic) of close games, OSU. Is it because USC isn’t blowing people out every week that apparently they aren’t good enough anymore for you?

A: The USC I saw against Arizona State is not a championship team. That’s three straight games that were a struggle. Maybe the bye week will get Jarrett and Smith healthy enough to allow the offense to stretch the field again. But based on what I’ve seen — as of now — I think Cal is better.

ESPN’s Jim Donnan:

Q: Coach do you think Cal is a better team than USC right now? And who has the better receivers this year?

A: Well, I’ve been impressed with the way Cal’s played, after the way they got ambushed by Tennessee. They look like a total football team right now. They’re playing like a better football team right now, but I still think USC will have the edge at home.

ABC picks up Cal at Arizona game

In good news for Cal fans, ABC Regional has picked up the away Arizona game on November 11. Kickoff is slated for 12:30pm. This is welcome news for those of us who want more than Joe Starkey’s voice or the jumbotron at Memorial Stadium.