NO. 9 CALIFORNIA
AT NO. 23 TENNESSEE
• Kickoff: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. PDT.
• TV: ESPN.
• Line: Tennessee by 1 1/2 .
• California update: The Golden Bears are touting junior running back Marshawn Lynch as a Heisman Trophy candidate. He rushed for 1,246 yards in 10 games last season. Receiver DeSean Jackson adds a deep threat for an offense that averaged 36 points a game. Nate Longshore, who suffered a broken leg in last season's opener, is the starter at quarterback, but Joe Ayoob, who took most of the snaps last season, is also expected to play.
• Tennessee update: The Volunteers ranked second in the nation in run defense last season and returning tackles Justin Herrell and Turk McBride pose a significant challenge to Lynch. The secondary returns all four starters. On offense, new coordinator David Cutcliffe will try to spark a unit that averaged only 18.6 points a game last season. He'll feature Arian Foster, who ended last season with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
• Story line: The season's first matchup of top 25 teams is also a matchup of teams with something to prove. Cal is looking to quell any doubts about its highest preseason ranking since 1952; Tennessee is looking to prove it belongs in the ratings after a 5-6 season in 2005, the Vols' worst record since 1988.
• The pick: Tennessee. The Vols' defense is too good for an untested quarterback.
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