Thursday, August 31, 2006

USA Today Picks Cal over Tennessee

Read the entire article here.

No. 12 California at No. 23 Tennessee, 5:30 p.m.

After going down for the season in his first game last year, Nate Longshore returns behind the controls of an impressive California offense that features running back Marshawn Lynch and wide receiver DeSean Jackson. Phil Fulmer is squarely on the hot seat after the Volunteers finished 5-6 and missed out on a bowl game. Former offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe is trying to shore up the offense, but it won't be enough to keep Fulmer cool. California 28, Tennessee 24.

1 comment:

California Pete said...

I'm not sure if the Bears are capable of scoring 28 points, at least not before seeing how the QB and O-line shape up, but I would be very surprised to see Tennessee put up 24. Based on everything I've seen and read, I get the sense that Cal's unproven new offense is perhaps a little overrated at this point, while its game-proven, talent-laden defense is signficantly underrated. Football's a game of momentum, and in that environment--I was fortunate to be there in 1987--things could get ugly for the boys in blue. But I really expect a scoreline in the neighborhood of Cal 27, Tennessee 13, and I think this Bears D is going to surprise a bunch of folks east of the Mississippi. By the way, if it is as good as advertised, the D needs a nickname. This is perhaps a little obscure, but there's a great old jazz piece by Duke Ellington called "Blue Pepper"; I've long wanted the Cal band to play a few bars of it after, say, a sack or a big defensive stop, in honor of our ferocious Blue Pepper defense. Go Bears!!