December 23, 2009, at 2:50 am
Record: 2-2
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl- #23 Utah v. California- Was there a more difficult team to figure out this season then California? I had them winning the Pac-10 and going to the Rose Bowl for the first time since they played in sweaters and leather helmets. Loved Jahvid Best. Thought the receiving core would be good enough to keep the defense honest. Predicted a solid defensive year. Going into the final weekend of September, everything was looking up for the Bears. Then came the 42-3 loss to Oregon followed by a 30-3 loss to USC.
2 weeks-6 points.
It was strange to see a team with such a dynamic rusher have that much trouble scoring. Best was off to a Heisman-like year, racking up over 130 yards on the ground in each of the first three weeks. Then it stopped. He got to 100 yards only twice more and missed the final three games of the season.
I don’t think Cal ever fully recovered from the Oregon loss. Here they are- number six in the country and ready to pounce on what’s looking like a very winnable Pac-10 and they get crushed by an Oregon team that most thought (at least I did) was in for a down year without the suspended LeGarette Blount. I mean, Best had 55 yards! It wasn’t close. Even though it was only one loss, I remember thinking that Cal had missed its shot yet again.
Then they came back from the dead without Jahvid Best and played spoiler in consecutive weeks to Arizona and Stanford. Sophmore running back Shane Vereen had 159 yards against Arizona and 193 against Stanford. Toby Gerhart had 4 touchdowns for Stanford and Vereen outplayed him. Where was this all season? Sure, its easy (and somewhat valid) to say that Cal’s problems had a ton to do with Jahvid Best not being himself, but isn’t it perplexing that they won two of the three games he missed?
Adding to the enigma, The Bears got smacked by 5-7 Washington to end the year. 42 points to a non bowl eligible team that has nothing but pride to play for in the final week of the year. This coming after they had crept back into the top 25.
Weird. Just too weird.
And that’s precisely why I can’t pick California to win this game. Don’t get me wrong, I like Utah a lot, and if last night was any indication, the Mountain West has come to play (again), but this is more a pick against Cal. At this point, how can you say anything about California with any conviction? I don’t care if you’re a Kirk Herbstreit or a Lee Corso. They’re just impossible to figure out.
Utah running back Eddie Wide has done a great job filling in for the injured Matt Asiatia. Wide had over 1000 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. This is even more impressive when you consider that he didn’t get starting back carries until week four. David Reed racked up over 1000 receiving yards and five touchdowns. Considering the transition year and the injury to their number one offensive weapon, the fact that Utah finished in the top 25 is a heck of a feat. The defense gives up less then 20 points a game. This doesn’t bode well for a Cal team that put 10 or less up four times this year.
Look for Cal’s offense to struggle. A lot.
The Pick: Utah
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