SF Chronicle: Bears' big date with Ducks

Jake Curtis

Cal folks will tell you the Bears' Nov. 18 game against USC is the one to circle on the calendar, but Saturday's matchup of No. 11 Oregon and No. 16 Cal in Berkeley has the look of something special. Our five R's begin with the Reasons the Oregon-Cal game holds such promise:

-- It is only the second time since 1972 that two teams ranked in the top 16 play a game in the Bay Area. The other was in 1991, when No. 7 Cal lost 24-17 to No. 3 Washington.

-- With USC suddenly looking vulnerable, the Oregon-Cal winner becomes a prime contender for a Rose Bowl berth.

-- Only four players in the country are averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game and better than 7 yards per carry, and two of them will play at Memorial Stadium on Saturday: the Bears' Marshawn Lynch and Oregon's Jonathan Stewart.

-- Only eight teams are averaging more than 38 points, and Cal and Oregon are two of them.

-- Cal quarterback Nate Longshore is tied for the national lead in touchdown passes with 14, and Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, who grew up in the East Bay, leads the Pac-10 in total offense.

-- Oregon wide receiver Jaison Williams is second nationally in receiving yardage (115.5 per game) and had seven catches, including two touchdown receptions, in the first quarter alone against Arizona State. Cal wideout DeSean Jackson is tied for the national lead in touchdown receptions with seven and has a punt return for a score as well.

-- Cal head coach Jeff Tedford and four of his assistants once coached at Oregon, and three Oregon assistants were born in the Bay Area.

-- The past three Oregon-Cal games have been tight: a 27-20 overtime win for the Ducks last year, the Bears' 28-27 victory in 2004 and Oregon's 21-17 decision in '03.