To get bowl eligible - where are the two wins? And do we want them in terms of the Cheez It Bowl memories? WSU, USC at home? At Stanford and Ucla? How things have changed. WSU isn't even a "maybe" anymore since the Bears offense can't score and the Cougars will get tons. USC has it swagger despite having Oregon at home next week. Trojan back up QB Slovis threw for 400 yds vs the Buffs. Costello is back for Furd And Chip, as some of you denied, is humming at Ucla. People, like me, are canceling trips for home games and it's really over. Put Wilcox on the hot seat, fire Baldwin on Bear Insider, and go back to your Tiffany's AYSO soccer game and cleaning out the garage on Saturday. Some of you might also want to consider 12 step programs for a variety of Bad Bear habits gameday!

It is much more likely that we lose out than somehow find two wins. Based on Sagarin ratings, we're likely dogs of about 6 points vs. Wazzu, 7-10 points vs. SC, 7 points at Furd, and 4-6 points at UCLA. All lines are probably going to be higher given the putrid offense and D that seems to have mailed it in.

I was planning to make it to one of the remaining two home games (likely Wazzu), as well as the Big Game. There's no chance I'll be at another game this year.

Unfortunately, yesterday's Bears team is unlikely to beat any of the remaining teams on our schedule. All of our remaining opponents are playing well right now and will be playing hard down the stretch to finish their seasons as strongly as possible.

I don't really know why the Bears are playing so down lately... obviously something isn't clicking with the coaching, the scheme, the preparation, or the locker room. Maybe that sorts itself out and we find a gutsy and physical win late in a tight fourth quarter, maybe not.

If I had to circle a winnable game, I'd look to Furd or fUCLA. Great secondary and LB play, and playing 'up' emotionally for traditional rivals, could possibly tip either game in our favor. At this point, a win in either is likely to be the only other bright spot this season after the Washington game.

Is it too late to schedule a rematch with Davis? How about Presbyterian?

Don't care as long as one of them is against Stanford. Go Bears!

objectively we will likely not win another game this year

dimitrig said:

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Don't care as long as one of them is against Stanford. Go Bears!

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That would certainly salvage the season.

The odds will be against the Bears in every remaining game.

In order of preference, I'd most want to see Cal beat

• 1 - Stanford
• 2 - U$C
• 3 - ucla
• 4 - Wazzu

UNLV and Cal Poly.

There was a point last year (after UCLA game?) when everybody was saying we were going to lose out, but then the staff was able to right the ship. Same could happen this year. None of the remaining opponents are all that great.

I don't know where the wins will come, or even if they will, but let's get healthier the next ten days and lay it all out there for the last month of the season. If we can get OUR OWN act together, we'll probably get some W's somewhere. (Obviously, getting back the Axe is a priority.)

The Bears will still have some fight left, despite the putrid showing at Utah and the seemingly endless slide. Here's to the Bears winning 3 of the next 4, beating UCLA, WSU, and one of U$C/Stanfurd.

Go Bears!

At this point USC appears too talented for us. In the other three games although we are on paper clear underdogs, we have some chance. If the Furd QB Costello gets hurt again, I like our chances. We seem to be able to dial up a good defensive scheme against Wazzu. If Garbers returns soon then our chances increase a fair amount. In each of the last two years Wilcox and the team have rebounded from really bad losses and had surprising wins. We shall see what we are made of over the next four games

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!

Now this is funny!

Hey, keep buying those Lotto tickets. Anything is possible.

southseasbear said:

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Is it too late to schedule a rematch with Davis? How about Presbyterian?

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At this point, Cal might be underdogs in a rematch.

Highly unlikely that we'll win two more games this season. For us to win any of the remaining four games, we'll have to get Garbers back. If he is back for Stanfurd or UCLA, we at least have a chance, but a win against either is still unlikely.

After losing at home to Oregon State.....at least the second of the two wins will have to come from next season.
Great 4-0 start, I loved the two road wins, and was glad I came up for the Mean Green game. Yep, I really miss 2002-2009 Tedford. If those years hadn't happened, this year would be fine with me, a lot like when I was at Cal, when there were no expectations.

NeverOddOrEven said:

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The Bears will still have some fight left, despite the putrid showing at Utah and the seemingly endless slide. Here's to the Bears winning 3 of the next 4, beating UCLA, WSU, and one of U$C/Stanfurd.

Go Bears!

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"Release some euphoria gas on
the Premium Board members!"

1
We should get our center back by WSU. We should also be healthier at WR and the line should be playing way better than previously. That should put us in a ASU or better position. Not hopeless like Utah, not quite "ok" but better than people expect.

I think WSU is possibly a good matchup for our D, since they dont run as much as they could (and their QB isnt a scrambler -38 yards so far-, but will make you pay if you give him time). So that may be a game where the D could make a comeback if they can manufacture pressure. The offense, even with 3rd string quality play at QB could do enough to keep it close. Its the best matchup for our D all year.


2
I think Furd might have the tools to break our D like Utah did, but our O could be in a position by then to break them back. By here we should have Garbers back and our Line mostly intact. I think this one is
3
UCLA is a winnable game, especially with timing, (on returning injured players + playing time) but I think the matchup favors them unless our D brings it as a last stand sr year type effort. It may be the least winnable game, if they dont.

4
I dont think USC is reasonable to expect a competitive game, but who knows.

So, I think in that order and for those reasons we should be looking for wins and where it goes off the rails.

WSU is our best shot.

Our horrific offense against their horrific defense.

Their great offense against our potentially great defense. Teams have been avoiding our secondary and running the ball against us. WSU won't do that. We held them to 19 last year in Wazzu and 3 in 2017. If "the Takers" make a reappearance....

Somewhere next season

LunchTime said:

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1
We should get our center back by WSU. We should also be healthier at WR and the line should be playing way better than previously. That should put us in a ASU or better position. Not hopeless like Utah, not quite "ok" but better than people expect.

I think WSU is possibly a good matchup for our D, since they dont run as much as they could (and their QB isnt a scrambler -38 yards so far-, but will make you pay if you give him time). So that may be a game where the D could make a comeback if they can manufacture pressure. The offense, even with 3rd string quality play at QB could do enough to keep it close. Its the best matchup for our D all year.


2
I think Furd might have the tools to break our D like Utah did, but our O could be in a position by then to break them back. By here we should have Garbers back and our Line mostly intact. I think this one is
3
UCLA is a winnable game, especially with timing, (on returning injured players + playing time) but I think the matchup favors them unless our D brings it as a last stand sr year type effort. It may be the least winnable game, if they dont.

4
I dont think USC is reasonable to expect a competitive game, but who knows.

So, I think in that order and for those reasons we should be looking for wins and where it goes off the rails.

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This, matchups and timing. My only quibble is our qb vs Wazzu. Brasche? Or Modster? I think DM will be back and play vs wazzu. Brasche the backup. Unless you heard differently.

We can't even spell the kid's name correctly. I predict 1 more win this season that we pull out of our butt.

upsetof86 said:

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LunchTime said:

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1
We should get our center back by WSU. We should also be healthier at WR and the line should be playing way better than previously. That should put us in a ASU or better position. Not hopeless like Utah, not quite "ok" but better than people expect.

I think WSU is possibly a good matchup for our D, since they dont run as much as they could (and their QB isnt a scrambler -38 yards so far-, but will make you pay if you give him time). So that may be a game where the D could make a comeback if they can manufacture pressure. The offense, even with 3rd string quality play at QB could do enough to keep it close. Its the best matchup for our D all year.


2
I think Furd might have the tools to break our D like Utah did, but our O could be in a position by then to break them back. By here we should have Garbers back and our Line mostly intact. I think this one is
3
UCLA is a winnable game, especially with timing, (on returning injured players + playing time) but I think the matchup favors them unless our D brings it as a last stand sr year type effort. It may be the least winnable game, if they dont.

4
I dont think USC is reasonable to expect a competitive game, but who knows.

So, I think in that order and for those reasons we should be looking for wins and where it goes off the rails.

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This, matchups and timing. My only quibble is our qb vs Wazzu. Brasche? Or Modster? I think DM will be back and play vs wazzu. Brasche the backup. Unless you heard differently.

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I haven't heard anything since there was speculation Garbers could be back by WSU. I am guessing we go with one of the freshmen, but DM might be able to go. Either way, if we get back our line to some pre Oregon level like I hope (I am just hoping), that gives all 4 of them a much better opportunity to make plays behind some actual blocking. That would make a huge difference I think.

If can have a pretend offense vs WSU we have a better than bad shot, given the matchup like you said.

cal83dls79 said:

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We can't even spell the kid's name correctly. I predict 1 more win this season that we pull out of our butt.

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If we win the next 4, I'll learn all their names.

Garbers is not coming back from his injury this year. Modster is the sh****s. And the defense gave up. No wins this year.

Why do people think Garbers is going to be at the same level he was for Ole Miss and 1/2 of ASU, if he comes back? Not throwing shade, really want to know.

95bears said:

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Why do people think Garbers is going to be at the same level he was for Ole Miss and 1/2 of ASU, if he comes back? Not throwing shade, really want to know.

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People failed to recognize it but he was playing well before that too. His QB rating on the season is 148.1 which is 6th in conference ahead of Daniels, Tate, Luton, DTR, Montez and Costello and if continued would have been high on the Cal all time list (better than Longshore's 141.6 in 2006 for example).

Yet we still had the PAC-12's worst offense, #120 in the nation. Our 2 yards per carry rushing average after our first two games is the bigger problem.

We've been hit hard by injuries, we can easily get two wins should similar injuries occur to our opponents prior to the game. I am not wishing this, but it is not that unlikely either. The performance of each of our upcoming opponents has been largely influenced by the health of the those teams throughout the season and going back to last year. USC has been an also ran recently largely because they have had a ridiculous amount of injuries over the last 3 or 4 years; UCLA clearly got a boost when their starting QB returned from injury. Furd's entire season has been determined by which of 3 QBs was healthy enough to start. And WSU has always been one key injury away from folding for the season because they have never had any depth at all.

In the meantime, we might start to play better as injured players return. OL Saffell, the two DTs that went MIA prior to the start of the season. We just got Beck back at nickel, which is huge.

It seems, because college teams have nearly 100 players on the roster, that injuries should not be a big factor, but they can make or break a season as much as in the NFL where there are only half the available bodies.

To be specific, if the WSU QB suffers an injury that can result in a win. Ditto for the reason of the games save maybe USC. Again, I am not wishing it, but why assume that Cal would be the only team on the field disadvantaged by losses at key positions?

I get it that Cal is cursed, but when it comes to injuries, unfortunately football is an equal opportunity destroyer. And over the last few years, Cal is far from the worst, when it comes to pac-12 teams with bad injury kharma. USC, OSU, UCLA, Arizona, Oregon and Colorado are probably the teams who have been hit hardest by injuries in recent years.

Blueblood said:

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NeverOddOrEven said:

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The Bears will still have some fight left, despite the putrid showing at Utah and the seemingly endless slide. Here's to the Bears winning 3 of the next 4, beating UCLA, WSU, and one of U$C/Stanfurd.

Go Bears!

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"Release some euphoria gas on
the Premium Board members!"

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*Ahem*

You got three out of four!

It's interesting to go back and see what people said. TONS of posters (on various threads) were saying we would lose out. But this is a 7-5 team and we're 7-5, even though it was a long and winding road.

Big C said:

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It's interesting to go back and see what people said. TONS of posters (on various threads) were saying we would lose out. But this is a 7-5 team and we're 7-5, even though it was a long and winding road.

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Nice post Big C. Sort of emphasizes to me that while we were down our QB and much of our oline, our loses were less about our OC and more about having to push an even more inexperienced group of players into action. I say even more inexperienced because we are an incredibly young team whose starters are good but only because we have to disproportionally practice them to achieve that level. The No 2s when forced into action just aren't as seasoned as our No 1s. Consequently we don't play as well, score as much, or win against teams who have greater depth simply because they are older and more experienced on the bench. We will have built some of that critical depth for next year.

(checks to see if I posted in this thread)

Great bump. Entertaining thread.

TouchedTheAxeIn82 said:

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(checks to see if I posted in this thread)

Great bump. Entertaining thread.

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We should bump the Spiral thread

drizzlybears brother said:

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TouchedTheAxeIn82 said:

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(checks to see if I posted in this thread)

Great bump. Entertaining thread.

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We should bump the Spiral thread

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umm, sorry but, link?