Hey, Cal didn't do too badly during its bye week!
I mean, in the AP Poll's "Others with votes" category, the Bears move up one notch from #31 to #30. It makes one wonder how far Cal could rise by not playing any more games?
More importantly, as far as Cal is concerned, is that the Utes crushed Cal's next opponent, the Beavs, to move up in the AP rankings to #13. Even so, I figure that a Cal loss to the Utes shouldn't create any greater burden of being able to qualify for a coveted bowl. I mean, I always had this game down as a loss for Cal.
However, for Cal, the countdown still is running as Cal still needs two more wins for bowl eligibility.
There is plenty of hope! Within the several conference games left there seems good opportunity for the Bears' bowl chance. There is the Oregon State game, of course, as one. Then, there are the games against Wazzu, u$C, the furds, and ucla, as others that Cal could pull out another win and maybe even more.
Given the above, I have slightly updated my seasonal predictions for the unranked Bears.
Note, I not only highlight in bold print the Bears' progressive overall won-loss record but also my overall predictive record, too.
Week 7: IN-SEASON PROJECTED 2019 CAL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE OUTCOMES (Updated)
[1] UC Davis - Oh hum, Cal sacrificed the Aggies to the football gods, not by much (2 TDs) as was hoped for over a mere FCS lamb but sacrificed nonetheless.
Cal 1-0
Blueblood 1-0
[2] @ Washington - Cal stupendously but uncannily managed to upset the #14 AP ranked UDub, not by much (1 point) but beat the Huskies nonetheless. Cal was lucky to have divine intervention where a storm delay all but eliminated an extreme partisan home field advantage.
Cal 2-0
Blueblood 1-1 (pre-season prediction)
[3] North Texas - Cal managed to hold off a second-half Mean Green resurgence led by QB Mason Fine for a six-point victory and for a laudable #23 AP ranking. FYI, the Mean Faded Green is currently 2-4 overall.
Cal 3-0
Blueblood 2-1
[4] @Ole Miss- Cal literally saved and eked out a last second win over the Rebels, which bolstered the Bears to a lofty #15 rank in the AP Poll! You know, I think that I'm so far gone now that I'm not sure that I enjoyed this lofty ranking with all the worry it has caused me. But, hey, it was only for a week!
Cal 4-0
Blueblood 2-2
[5] Arizona State - Coach Edwards and his team knew that a win might be the only way they can get back in the good-graciousness of the AP Top 25 rankings, and boy did they, ASU was ranked #20 in the AP Poll at Cal's gracious expense. Even more amazing is that The Sun Devils are now ranked higher at #18 after a bye week!
Cal 4-1
Blueblood 2-3
[6] @Oregon- This game was Cal's path to get back into the AP Top 25, but it was not to be. Oregon managed to win despite playing like they had the bye week blahs. The Ducks owe this game's win to their Autzen Stadium fan base.
Cal 4-2
Blueblood 3-3
[7] Oregon State- This will be a Cal WIN. The Utah defense shut down Luton's passing and Pierce's running. Cal's defense should be able to do close to the same. The fact that the Beavs were destroyed won't help the Berkeley game's attendance (probably to a half empty Memorial Stadium crowd), but this won't matter if the Bears can increase its bowl chances to just needing one more win out of the next 5 games.
Cal 5-2?
Blueblood 4-3?
[8] @Utah - Utah will be a formidable opponent for our Bears as they aptly demonstrated against the Beavs. The Utes are back on the winning track as evinced by thumping the spineless Cougs and hapless Beavs. But, because this is a Utah home game and because they're now ranked in #13 AP spot, I still feel this will be a definite road LOSS for the Bears.
[9] Washington State Remember, after the Cougs' loss to Utah, Leach acutely shamed his team and I pointed out that we will see how his team responds. In their loss against ASU, I saw no change for the better in the Cougs; they were ahead for 3 quarters but lost it in the end. Cal will WIN as the Cougs appear to lose their motivation when playing the Bears in CMS.
[10] u$C- With the loss to Norte Dame, the hot seat just burned Helton's butt. I believe the Germans have the appropriate words for his coaching status. It's "Auf Wiedersehen!" Helton is definitely a goner. Even though Helton will be a lame-duck coach, this will be a tough game, but I'm saying Cal will WIN this home game!
[11] @dirty stanfurd- It looks like a favorable Big Game outcome is in doubt for Cal. Will on-and-off again QB Costello be healthy enough to play? Will Garbers or Modster be leading the Bears? The furds are shouting, "Who cares!" Stanfurd has *****Mills at QB. Against UDub, he threw for 293 yards. I'm already practicing bending over for another Big Game LOSS.
[12] @ucla - Chip's in-progress team just lost to 'zona and the beavs, but these losses were without their QB Dorian R-T. Even so, this is Cal's ace-card game to get a post-season bowl invite just in case the Beavs or Wazzu outcomes don't turn out the way we hope. This is a Cal WIN even though this game is played (cough, cough)...in L.A.
Wow, I am now predicting Cal to have a fabulous 8-4 season! Cal is looking to be third in the Pac-12 North. With Cal going bowling, I don't know how to handle this much success! If this does happen, it would mean BB will remain the OC at Cal for another, if not more, seasons.
I mean, in the AP Poll's "Others with votes" category, the Bears move up one notch from #31 to #30. It makes one wonder how far Cal could rise by not playing any more games?
More importantly, as far as Cal is concerned, is that the Utes crushed Cal's next opponent, the Beavs, to move up in the AP rankings to #13. Even so, I figure that a Cal loss to the Utes shouldn't create any greater burden of being able to qualify for a coveted bowl. I mean, I always had this game down as a loss for Cal.
However, for Cal, the countdown still is running as Cal still needs two more wins for bowl eligibility.
There is plenty of hope! Within the several conference games left there seems good opportunity for the Bears' bowl chance. There is the Oregon State game, of course, as one. Then, there are the games against Wazzu, u$C, the furds, and ucla, as others that Cal could pull out another win and maybe even more.
Given the above, I have slightly updated my seasonal predictions for the unranked Bears.
Note, I not only highlight in bold print the Bears' progressive overall won-loss record but also my overall predictive record, too.
Week 7: IN-SEASON PROJECTED 2019 CAL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE OUTCOMES (Updated)
[1] UC Davis - Oh hum, Cal sacrificed the Aggies to the football gods, not by much (2 TDs) as was hoped for over a mere FCS lamb but sacrificed nonetheless.
Cal 1-0
Blueblood 1-0
[2] @ Washington - Cal stupendously but uncannily managed to upset the #14 AP ranked UDub, not by much (1 point) but beat the Huskies nonetheless. Cal was lucky to have divine intervention where a storm delay all but eliminated an extreme partisan home field advantage.
Cal 2-0
Blueblood 1-1 (pre-season prediction)
[3] North Texas - Cal managed to hold off a second-half Mean Green resurgence led by QB Mason Fine for a six-point victory and for a laudable #23 AP ranking. FYI, the Mean Faded Green is currently 2-4 overall.
Cal 3-0
Blueblood 2-1
[4] @Ole Miss- Cal literally saved and eked out a last second win over the Rebels, which bolstered the Bears to a lofty #15 rank in the AP Poll! You know, I think that I'm so far gone now that I'm not sure that I enjoyed this lofty ranking with all the worry it has caused me. But, hey, it was only for a week!
Cal 4-0
Blueblood 2-2
[5] Arizona State - Coach Edwards and his team knew that a win might be the only way they can get back in the good-graciousness of the AP Top 25 rankings, and boy did they, ASU was ranked #20 in the AP Poll at Cal's gracious expense. Even more amazing is that The Sun Devils are now ranked higher at #18 after a bye week!
Cal 4-1
Blueblood 2-3
[6] @Oregon- This game was Cal's path to get back into the AP Top 25, but it was not to be. Oregon managed to win despite playing like they had the bye week blahs. The Ducks owe this game's win to their Autzen Stadium fan base.
Cal 4-2
Blueblood 3-3
[7] Oregon State- This will be a Cal WIN. The Utah defense shut down Luton's passing and Pierce's running. Cal's defense should be able to do close to the same. The fact that the Beavs were destroyed won't help the Berkeley game's attendance (probably to a half empty Memorial Stadium crowd), but this won't matter if the Bears can increase its bowl chances to just needing one more win out of the next 5 games.
Cal 5-2?
Blueblood 4-3?
[8] @Utah - Utah will be a formidable opponent for our Bears as they aptly demonstrated against the Beavs. The Utes are back on the winning track as evinced by thumping the spineless Cougs and hapless Beavs. But, because this is a Utah home game and because they're now ranked in #13 AP spot, I still feel this will be a definite road LOSS for the Bears.
[9] Washington State Remember, after the Cougs' loss to Utah, Leach acutely shamed his team and I pointed out that we will see how his team responds. In their loss against ASU, I saw no change for the better in the Cougs; they were ahead for 3 quarters but lost it in the end. Cal will WIN as the Cougs appear to lose their motivation when playing the Bears in CMS.
[10] u$C- With the loss to Norte Dame, the hot seat just burned Helton's butt. I believe the Germans have the appropriate words for his coaching status. It's "Auf Wiedersehen!" Helton is definitely a goner. Even though Helton will be a lame-duck coach, this will be a tough game, but I'm saying Cal will WIN this home game!
[11] @dirty stanfurd- It looks like a favorable Big Game outcome is in doubt for Cal. Will on-and-off again QB Costello be healthy enough to play? Will Garbers or Modster be leading the Bears? The furds are shouting, "Who cares!" Stanfurd has *****Mills at QB. Against UDub, he threw for 293 yards. I'm already practicing bending over for another Big Game LOSS.
[12] @ucla - Chip's in-progress team just lost to 'zona and the beavs, but these losses were without their QB Dorian R-T. Even so, this is Cal's ace-card game to get a post-season bowl invite just in case the Beavs or Wazzu outcomes don't turn out the way we hope. This is a Cal WIN even though this game is played (cough, cough)...in L.A.
Wow, I am now predicting Cal to have a fabulous 8-4 season! Cal is looking to be third in the Pac-12 North. With Cal going bowling, I don't know how to handle this much success! If this does happen, it would mean BB will remain the OC at Cal for another, if not more, seasons.
