California @ Oregon State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2011 ) Oregon State 6, California 23

With a marquee matchup with rival and No. 1 Oregon only a week away, No. 17 Oregon State will try to avoid looking past visiting California on Saturday in their Pac-12 Conference contest. The Beavers are 4-0 at home this season but may be without the services of quarterback Cody Vaz, who is dealing with an ankle injury. The Golden Bears cruised past Oregon State last season, but enter this game losers of four straight. With no bowl hopes, this will be the season finale for Cal and will cap a disappointing campaign. A week ago, the Golden Bears trailed powerhouse Oregon by only a touchdown in the third quarter but surrendered five straight Ducks scores before falling 59-17.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Networks. LINE: None

ABOUT CALIFORNIA (3-8, 2-6 Pac-12): Starting quarterback Zach Maynard is unlikely to play after injuring his knee earlier in the month. Allan Bridgford replaced Maynard and was 9-of-21 for 113 yards last week. With Maynard out, the Bears likely need to run the ball and have been effective doing so this season. California rushed for 236 yards against Oregon to mark the fifth time this season and third time in the last five games that Cal has rushed for 200 or more yards as a team. The rushing attack against the Ducks was led by Isi Sofele and his season-best 134 yards on the ground. Sofele is only 109 yards away from 10th place on Cal's all-time career rushing list and needs two more rushing touchdowns to crack Cal's all-time top 10 chart in that category.

ABOUT OREGON STATE (7-2, 5-2): The Beavers look to rebound following their crucial loss at Stanford a week ago which knocked them into third place in the Pac-12 South Division. It was only the third time in the last 55 games that the Beavers blew a fourth-quarter lead and lost. Both Vaz and former starter Sean Mannion have been hobbled with injuries during the season. Vaz replaced Mannion after the later threw four interceptions against Washington. Oregon State’s schedule ranks third toughest in the nation and it still has Oregon upcoming. The Beavers have allowed nine of fewer points in three outings this season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Oregon State has been in the polls for eight straight weeks, a school record.

2. Cal hammered No. 16 UCLA 43-17 earlier in the season.

3. Cal's top three rushers of C.J. Anderson, Sofele and Brendan Bigelow have combined for 1,794 yards and seven 100-yard rushing performances this season.

PREDICTION: California 28, Oregon State 27