Miami has two relatively easy games (Ball State and S. Florida) and should be 4-0, ranked in the middle of the top 10 before their game in Berkeley. If we can do our part in Tallahassee against a vulnerable FSU team and also get to that game 4-0 and ranked, the game becomes an attractive and original matchup (first ever Cal ACC home game). The Mendoza story is a compelling one, local kid who dreams of following his father's footsteps and play for the Hurricanes passed on by most programs, snatched by Cal from Yale, becomes leading contender for all-conference as a Soph.
The main other contenders for gameday that Saturday are listed below, I am also assuming that the Gameday decision is only done 1 week in advance (could be earlier than that):
Clemson at Florida State:
If we beat FSU, they would be 0-3 and dead last in the ACC, unranked and out of contention for the playoffs. The beauty here is that we can make sure that this game doesn't get picked...
Auburn at Georgia:
Likewise, Auburn unranked thanks to our win, looks like a blowout or at least a decisive UGA win and uncompetitive game.
Missouri at Texas A&M
Mizzou is ranked high, but haven't played anyone yet, root for BC to bring them down a notch this week. TAMU has lost to Notre Dame, which looks bad after the Domers' disastrous home FCS loss.
Michigan at Washington
A literal replay of the last NCG, and another "exotic" realignment matchup that looks like a 1990s Rose Bowl pairing. On paper a few weeks ago a slam dunk for Gameday, but with Michigan having been heavily deflated by their meltdown against Texas and UW unranked and lacking star power this year, it's no longer a given. USC beating Michigan 2 weeks from now would further downgrade that game. Root for WSU against UW a little harder than usual (funny how the Apple Cup now falls during apple season...)
Alabama at Vanderbilt
Both teams currently undefeated but Bama has at least one loss the next two weeks vs Georgia and Wisconsin, Vandy loses vs Missouri, but the main reason this won't be on Gameday is that its crew will be at Tuscaloosa the week before for the showdown against Georgia.
So basically if we win the next two, Gameday in Berkeley for the Canes is pretty likely.
The main other contenders for gameday that Saturday are listed below, I am also assuming that the Gameday decision is only done 1 week in advance (could be earlier than that):
Clemson at Florida State:
If we beat FSU, they would be 0-3 and dead last in the ACC, unranked and out of contention for the playoffs. The beauty here is that we can make sure that this game doesn't get picked...
Auburn at Georgia:
Likewise, Auburn unranked thanks to our win, looks like a blowout or at least a decisive UGA win and uncompetitive game.
Missouri at Texas A&M
Mizzou is ranked high, but haven't played anyone yet, root for BC to bring them down a notch this week. TAMU has lost to Notre Dame, which looks bad after the Domers' disastrous home FCS loss.
Michigan at Washington
A literal replay of the last NCG, and another "exotic" realignment matchup that looks like a 1990s Rose Bowl pairing. On paper a few weeks ago a slam dunk for Gameday, but with Michigan having been heavily deflated by their meltdown against Texas and UW unranked and lacking star power this year, it's no longer a given. USC beating Michigan 2 weeks from now would further downgrade that game. Root for WSU against UW a little harder than usual (funny how the Apple Cup now falls during apple season...)
Alabama at Vanderbilt
Both teams currently undefeated but Bama has at least one loss the next two weeks vs Georgia and Wisconsin, Vandy loses vs Missouri, but the main reason this won't be on Gameday is that its crew will be at Tuscaloosa the week before for the showdown against Georgia.
So basically if we win the next two, Gameday in Berkeley for the Canes is pretty likely.