BY JOHN SHIPLEY
Who: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. California Golden Bears
When: 6 p.m. tonight
Where: Berkeley, Calif.
TV: TBS
Radio: WCCO-AM 830
Line: California by 7½
Offense
Quarterback: Cal's Nate Longshore earned the starting job as a freshman last season, then broke his leg in the opener. So last Saturday's game at Tennessee was only his second, and it didn't go well. He completed 11 passes for 85 yards and was intercepted once in a 35-18 loss at Tennessee. He'll start today, but if he stumbles early, coach Jeff Tedford will pull him again for last year's starter, Joe Ayoob. Minnesota's Bryan Cupito is in his third year as a starter, though he was inconspicuous last week against Kent State — just the way Minnesota likes it. The Gophers ran 55 times and passed just 15 in a 44-0 victory. Cupito was 8 of 13 for 146 yards and a touchdown. Edge: Gophers
Running backs: Cal junior Marshawn Lynch was taken out of last week's game when Tennessee went up 21-0 on the first play of the third quarter. He rushed just 12 times but gained 74 yards, a 6.2-yard average. In his first two seasons, he averaged over 7 yards a carry. Alex Daniels is a converted linebacker whose atypical frame (6 feet 2, 260 pounds) and jovial nature are starting to capture imaginations beyond Minnesota after he rushed for 155 yards on 24 carries in his debut. Amir Pinnix gained 114 yards against Kent and likely will split carries with Daniels tonight. Still, Lynch is a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. It has been a long time since we've said this, but … Edge: California
Receivers: Two starters return for Cal: Sophomore DeSean Jackson, who led the Bears with 38 catches for 601 yards and a team-high seven TDs, and junior Robert Jordan (34-455, 4). Junior college transfer Lavelle Hawkins caught three passes for 41 yards at Tennessee. Minnesota's big WRs Ernie Wheelwright, Logan Payne and Eric Decker can use size to their advantage, but they still need to run fast and get reasonably open. TE Matt Spaeth, one the nation's best, could be a wild-card factor. Edge: None
Offensive line: Despite starting four seniors, Cal was thoroughly beaten on the line last week at Tennessee, killing the Bears' game plan. It couldn't run (64 net yards) or protect the quarterback (three sacks for 20 yards). Despite losing an all-America center and all-Big Ten guard, the Gophers showed last week they will run the same ambitious plays that made them dangerous on the ground last season. Junior C Tony Brinkhaus is the new leader, and Minnesota rushed for 322 yards against and didn't surrender a sack at Kent State. But Cal's defense is considerably better. Edge: None
Defense
Defensive line: Cal returns all four starters, including senior ends Nu'u Tafisi and Abu Ma'afala and first team all-Pac-10 tackle Brandon Mebane, who had a team-high seven sacks last season. Minnesota had five sacks against Kent State, two by end Steve Davis. But this is the Gophers' weak link right now. Tackles Neel Allen and Todd Meisel are inexperienced, as is right end Willie VanDeSteeg. Edge: California
Linebackers: MLB Desmond Bishop led the Bears with 89 tackles as a junior last season, including 12 solo stops in a loss to Southern Cal. Sophomore WLB Worrell Williams is starting for the first time, as is SLB Justin Moye. The Gophers return starters at all three positions, and look strong at each. Among them, WLB John Shevlin, MLB Mike Sherels and SLB Mario Reese had 21 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries at Kent State. Edge: Gophers
Secondary: Cal lost senior CB Tim Mixon to a torn ACL in a scrimmage, and it showed immediately when replacement Syd'Quan Thompson was burned for two TDs while going for INTs last week. On the other side, Daymieon Hughes has size (6-2, 188) and speed. Big FS Thomas DeCoud (6-3, 195) had 13 stops against the Vols. Minnesota had some early coverage issues against Kent State, but in the end CB Jamal Harris had two INTs, and S Dominic Jones had one. But the corners have been susceptible to speed, and Cal has it. Edge: California.
Special teams
Before Thomas DeCoud was a starting safety, he was a specialist, with six blocked kicks in two seasons. Marshawn Lynch returned two kicks against Tennessee, with a long of 26 yards. PK Tom Schneider hit 9 of 16 FGs last season, and his only attempt against the Vols, a 32-yarder. Minnesota's Jason Giannini hit his lone attempt last week, and 5 of 6 PATs, the miss being a block. Dominic Jones is proving to be a good returner, though he had a little trouble holding on to kicks last season. Edge: None
Intangibles
The pressure on Cal is nearly tangible. After basking in preseason hype all summer, the Bears were whipped at Tennessee right out of the chute, leaving the field to chants of "Overrated!" Opening the season 0-2 is nearly unthinkable in Berkeley, but if Cal starts slowly — and especially if Longshore struggles — the Bears might panic. Minnesota's players say they have nothing to lose, but they know that isn't true. The Gophers can smell big, and rare, opportunity to raise their national profile, kick-start a winning season and shove some cynicism down their critics' throats. Edge: California.
Prediction
We think Minnesota has a shot. Cal has some holes that didn't appear satisfactorily filled last weekend, and its quarterback situation is volatile. On the other hand, the Bears have experience on both lines and a budding star in Lynch. And if they have a pulse, they will play with desperation. If they can establish the run against the Gophers' inexperienced line, they will be in the driver's seat. California 27, Minnesota 17.
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