Oregon @ California preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 6, 2011 ) California 15, Oregon 43

Kenjon Barner has thrust himself into the heart of the Heisman Trophy race and No. 2 Oregon looks to remain unbeaten when it visits California on Saturday. Barner rushed for a school-record 321 yards and scored five touchdowns as the Ducks defeated USC 62-51 on Nov. 3. Barner has rushed for 1,295 yards and ranks second nationally at 143.9 yards per game. The Ducks are looking for their 14th consecutive road victory with the last loss coming at Stanford in 2009. The Golden Bears have lost three consecutive games and are preparing to play without starting quarterback Zach Maynard (knee). Standout receiver Keenan Allen will miss his second straight game with a knee injury.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Oregon -28

ABOUT OREGON (9-0, 6-0 Pac-12 North): The Ducks have won 12 consecutive games dating back to last season to match the school record. Oregon leads the nation in scoring at 54.3 points per game and has scored 42 or more points in each of its last 12 outings. Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota passed for four touchdowns against USC to raise his season mark to 22, most by a freshman in Pac-12 history. Mariota has completed 70.5 percent of his passes, which is higher than the freshman mark set by Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford (69.5) in 2007. Oregon’s defense is shaky at times but has intercepted 17 passes and forced 26 turnovers.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA (3-7, 2-5): Golden Bears coach Jeff Tedford is on the hot seat with the second losing campaign in three seasons already guaranteed. The odds of giving Oregon a close game are slim with Maynard unlikely to be available and junior Allan Bridgford at the helm. Bridgford started the season-opening contest against Nevada and was 2-of-9 for six yards. Overall, he is 4-of-16 for 32 yards this season. Senior C.J. Anderson had a career-high 160 rushing yards in the Nov. 3 loss to Washington and figures to receive a lot of carries again. Anderson has a team-best 673 rushing yards. The Golden Bears have forced 15 turnovers – nine via interceptions – over the last five games. Sophomore inside linebacker Nick Forbes had two fumble recoveries and his first career interception against the Huskies.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cal leads the series 39-33-2, but Oregon has won the last three meetings and 11 of the last 15.

2. The 12-game winning streak by the Ducks is the second-longest active streak behind Alabama’s 13 in a row.

3. The Golden Bears have held four of their last five opponents to 21 or fewer points.

PREDICTION: Oregon 66, California 7