PREMIUM
Rogers' ESPN Thursday SHOWCASE (Part 2) - Cal @ USC!
(NCAAF) California vs. USC,
10/27/2016 6:30 PM, Score: 24 - 45
Point Spread: 16.50 | -106.00 California (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 16.50 | -106.00 California (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Cal and USC own identical 4-3 records with USC at 3-2 in the Pac-12 South and Cal 2-2 in the North Division. California has played back-to-back overtime games and will be playing on a second consecutive Friday when they travel to Los Angeles to face USC at the Coliseum. The Golden Bears beat host Oregon 52-49 in double-overtime last Friday night while USC enjoyed a bye last weekend. USC opened the year ranked 20th in the AP's preseason poll but a season-opening 52-6 against Alabama at Arlington took care of that.
California: Texas Tech graduate transfer Davis Webb has made fans hardly miss QB Jared Goff, the NFL's overall No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft. He was limited against Oregon State with a hand injury back on October 8 but surely showed no ill-effects last Friday, throwing for 325 yards and five TD passes without an INT. He enters this game leading the nation in pass attempts (362), is fourth in passing yards (2,581) and second in TD passes (27) to lead a California offense that ranks second in the conference in scoring (43.7 PPG / 9th in the nation) and has put up at least 40 points in six of seven games this season. However, the Bears' not-so-golden defense allows 41.3 PPG (124th) on 488.3 YPG (121st).
USC comes in on a three-game winning streak, as USC's offensive line has allowed true freshman QB Sam Darnold to have been sacked just once in the streak, while the Trojans have run for least 157 yards in each win. Darnold replaced Browne as the starting QB in a 31-27 loss at Utah on Sept. 23 but has then led the team to three straight wins. He's completing 66.7 percent with 13 TDs and just two INTs on the season. The USC defense is solid, allowing 24.0 PPG (43rd) on 370.7 YPG (45th).
The pick: USC is 3-0 at home and held those opponents to just 14.7 PPG but keeping Webb and Co. in check is a whole different story. Cal plays at a blistering pace and the Bears have been in six straight games that have been within a single possession in the final minute. Take the buschel full of points and make Cal an 8* play.
California: Texas Tech graduate transfer Davis Webb has made fans hardly miss QB Jared Goff, the NFL's overall No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft. He was limited against Oregon State with a hand injury back on October 8 but surely showed no ill-effects last Friday, throwing for 325 yards and five TD passes without an INT. He enters this game leading the nation in pass attempts (362), is fourth in passing yards (2,581) and second in TD passes (27) to lead a California offense that ranks second in the conference in scoring (43.7 PPG / 9th in the nation) and has put up at least 40 points in six of seven games this season. However, the Bears' not-so-golden defense allows 41.3 PPG (124th) on 488.3 YPG (121st).
USC comes in on a three-game winning streak, as USC's offensive line has allowed true freshman QB Sam Darnold to have been sacked just once in the streak, while the Trojans have run for least 157 yards in each win. Darnold replaced Browne as the starting QB in a 31-27 loss at Utah on Sept. 23 but has then led the team to three straight wins. He's completing 66.7 percent with 13 TDs and just two INTs on the season. The USC defense is solid, allowing 24.0 PPG (43rd) on 370.7 YPG (45th).
The pick: USC is 3-0 at home and held those opponents to just 14.7 PPG but keeping Webb and Co. in check is a whole different story. Cal plays at a blistering pace and the Bears have been in six straight games that have been within a single possession in the final minute. Take the buschel full of points and make Cal an 8* play.
