Oakland Tribune: WSU plays role in Cal's bowl bid

Loss to Cougars tonight would add to Bears' problems

By Dave Newhouse STAFF WRITER 

BERKELEY — Tonight's game is Cal's most critical of the year. The Bears' bowl prospects will rise like the Discovery, or their football season could plummet like the Hindenburg.  The Bears have lost their Golden look. They've lost two straight, and coach Jeff Tedford is in danger of experiencing his first three-game losing streak at Cal.  Thus, Washington State isn't so much an infrequent opponent as it is a looming adversary. Cal hasn't played the Cougars since 2002 and hasn't beaten them in their past four games and in six of their last seven meetings.  And the Cougars have the weapons — passing, running, return game — to make it a long evening for the slumping Bears, who are beset with injuries.  Two of Cal's best players, offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan (concussion) and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (ankle), likely won't play.  Wide receiver Robert Jordan (collarbone) is definitely out, but the other starting wideout, DeSeanJackson (shoulder), is expected to play.  Cal (5-2) is favored by 12 points. Of course, it was favored by 16 last week, and lost 23-20 to visiting Oregon State. Odds can be the oddest predictor sometimes.  Cal has a disjointed look at the moment, and with Oregon and USC coming up after Washington State, the Bears are at a pivotal juncture.  All eyes will be on Cal quarterback Joe Ayoob, the focal point of the Cal season and the object of some Bears fans' derision.  Ayoob desperately needs a performance to justify Tedford's faith in him and to ward off the boos of Old Blues. History is on Ayoob's side.

It took Aaron Rodgers eight games into his first season at Cal in 2003 to establish himself at quarterback. This is Ayoob's eighth game at Cal, and it's critical his progress reaches a higher peak tonight.  "It's a transition to be made with everyone," Tedford said.  And it must be made by Ayoob even with questionable protection. Starting tackles O'Callaghan and Andrew Cameron (knee) could be out. His top tailback, Marshawn Lynch, still has a cast on his left hand.  It's essential for Cal to win the time-of-possession battle within the overall battle, to keep Washington State's offense and special teams off the field. Tailback Jerome Harrison, wide receiver Jason Hill and return man Michael Bumpus are a three-way heart attack awaiting Cal.  Cougars quarterback Alex Brink has 13 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, not that much different from Ayoob's 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions. But Brink has a 57.2 completion percentage to Ayoob 50.0, the lowest accuracy mark of all starting Pac-10 quarterbacks.  Ayoob must be considerably better tonight if Cal's season is to be saved from total collapse.