California @ Colorado preview
Folsom Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2014 ) Colorado 56, California 59
Defending Pac-12 South Division champ Colorado finds itself at the bottom of the division and is weighing a quarterback change for Saturday’s homecoming game against California. Sophomore Steven Montez has started all eight contests this season, but was replaced by redshirt freshman Sam Noyer at halftime of last Saturday night’s loss at Washington State, and coach Mike MacIntyre said a decision on the starter will be a pregame call Saturday.
Montez is a 7-4 as a starter, including 3-1 as a freshman last season, but owns a so-so passer-efficiency rating of 135.4 and the Buffaloes are averaging only 22.2 points per Pac-12 game after last week’s 28-0 loss in rainy Pullman. “All our quarterbacks have got to go to a different level,” MacIntyre said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. “I’m not saying all the guys aren’t trying. That’s not what I mean. They just have to get better at what they do, (and) sometimes if you’re in a rut and not feeling good, sometimes it’s good to make a change, see what happens and see if that keeps you focused.” California, meanwhile, couldn’t carry over the momentum from its shocking Oct. 7 rout (37-3) of then No. 5-ranked Washington State in falling to visiting Arizona 45-44 in double overtime last Saturday. After holding the Cougars to a field goal, the Golden Bears surrendered 511 total yards and a season-high 45 points to the Wildcats, but still had a chance to pull out a victory until Russ Bowers’ potential game-winning 2-point conversion pass was swatted away in the second overtime period.
TV: 2 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Colorado -3
ABOUT CALIFORNIA (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12): Bowers established career highs for completions (29) and attempts (49) against Arizona and over the last two weeks has completed 50-of-87 attempts for 560 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Patrick Laird also is coming off one of the best outings of his career with 172 total yards and two TDs and ranks seventh in the conference with his average of 103 scrimmage yards per contest. Defensively, linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk has recorded 25 total tackles, including 4.5 for losses, over the last two games for a unit which is allowing 28.4 points and 433.4 yards per game.
ABOUT COLORADO (4-4, 1-4): While the Buffaloes’ aerial attack has sputtered, senior running back Phillip Lindsay has been a force, trailing only Stanford's Bryce Love in the Pac-12 rushing (136.6 yards) and all-purpose yards (155.4) rankings. Colorado also does boast a veteran receiving corps led by senior Bryce Bobo, who’s averaging 5.2 catches and 56.4 receiving yards. Linebackers Drew Lewis and Rick Gamboa are averaging a combined 15.3 tackles for a defense which is allowing 24.6 points and 422 yards.
EXTRA POINTS
1. California leads the series 5-3, including a 59-56 double-overtime win in their last meeting on Sept. 27, 2014 in Berkeley.
2. Colorado is only 5-12 in its last 17 homecoming games, and their 40-16 win over Arizona State last season snapped an eight-game homecoming losing streak.
3. Cal’s Matt Anderson ranks fifth in the conference with 1.38 field goals per game and needs nine more points to surpass Doug Brien atop the school’s career scoring list.
PREDICTION: California 30, Colorado 27