First off how can you say that Washington is a shitty football team? They went 5-2 at home with there only loses coming from LSU by 8 and Oregon by 24. They beat USC, Idaho, California and Arizona this year and lost to Arizona St by 7, Notre Dame by 7 and UCLA by 1. They could have easily went 8-4 this year!!!
Secondly, this is a tough game because you have Utah coming in playing tough defenses in TCU and BYU in 2 of there last 3 games. Almost pulled an upset against BYU in overtime and have been playing well on Defense vs the pass - even against TCU! My take on Bowl games is if you have a good pass defense then it is alot easier to prepare a game plan against a team that uses the run a bunch. IMHO I think it is harder for a team to prepare against a very well passing attack vs a very well running attack. California has both, but Utah has the number 19th best passing defense in the nation and hav only allowed 134 to BYU, 207 to SDS and 207 to TCU. So I think that they are going to focus on stopping the run and have Cal beat there 19th ranked passing defense.
But then if you look at Cal they have played a tougher schedule, with recent wins @ Stanford and home vs Arizona, while losing to a GOOD Washington HOME team! The do have weapons and they can score, but the thing that scares me is the 108th ranked pass defense. I can see Cal getting tricked once or twice on a couple play-action passes and getting burnt for a touchdown or 2.
If I were to bet this game which I haven't decided yet I would take the points right now and take Utah, just because I think they are going to make Riley beat them by lining 7-8 guys in the box and stop Vereen and depend on their 19th ranked pass defense. This is exactly what I thought was going to happen last night and it did with a similar MWC team shutting down a PAC-10 running game.
Go Utes!!!!
I like Cal for the following reasons:
1) Thinking Utah may be in a little bit of a let down mode after playing in a BCS bowl last year against Alabama. Also, (like Oregon State) coming off a loss in a huge rivalry game with BYU.
2) Hoping that Cal can rattle the freshman quarterback for Utah.
3) The unranked team is giving points to the ranked team. I know this theory didn't work last night but it's been fairly good through the season.
4) Cal has been in San Diego, for bowl games, a few times in the past 5 or 6 years. I know they didn't play, everytime, in this bowl but they should be familiar with the area.
5) Points didn't change with Best out.
Really thinking that (like Oregon State last night) Utah will be the team that's not motivated to play tonight.
Warning: I just got initiated into this month's Biggest Loser Club (for handicappers) so you may want to do the big fade!
Cal - 2.5
I like Cal for the following reasons:
1) Thinking Utah may be in a little bit of a let down mode after playing in a BCS bowl last year against Alabama. Also, (like Oregon State) coming off a loss in a huge rivalry game with BYU.
2) Hoping that Cal can rattle the freshman quarterback for Utah.
3) The unranked team is giving points to the ranked team. I know this theory didn't work last night but it's been fairly good through the season.
4) Cal has been in San Diego, for bowl games, a few times in the past 5 or 6 years. I know they didn't play, everytime, in this bowl but they should be familiar with the area.
5) Points didn't change with Best out.
Really thinking that (like Oregon State last night) Utah will be the team that's not motivated to play tonight.
Warning: I just got initiated into this month's Biggest Loser Club (for handicappers) so you may want to do the big fade!
Cal - 2.5
Motivation? Utah being disappointed not going to a BCS Bowl game? It's not like they have made a ton of trips to BCS bowl games! Plus, they had to replace ALL of the offensive skill positions from last year, so I would think the offensive starters are going to be jacked to be in any bowl. I also see no let down in their post season Defensive who return 8 of their top 11 tacklers from last years team that shut down Alabama in the post season. If your talking about lack of Motivation your finger should be pointed in the direction of California - who was suppose to contend for the Pac-10 division with hopes of going to the Rose Bowl! Instead they end the season going 8-4 with a 5-4 Pac-10 record. Sorry to bust your bubble, but I highly doubt lack of motivation is going to play a roll in a Utah lose. If they do lose it will be because Utah will not be able to stop Vereen, but I think they have had enough time to figure out a gameplan to stop him.
Go Utes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Utah - Mormons take these games far more seriously and the Utes have more mormons..... Utes - more disciplined - party less in San Diego, 24 seniors on the squad looking to keep bowl streak alive, Cal not jacked to be in this shiddy bowl game, BYU 44 OSU 20........
CAlBear I hope you are spot on and I too will obviously be rooting for my Bears but I see this as a tough spot. Simply stated, alumni not excited about this game and bowl and many of the players feel the same.
No play for me but GO BEARS 
.
Probalby will play the over as I look for bowl games to go 5-0 to the over this season.
U know this, perception from the outside has a different view!
So, i ,or they view it as a smack in the mouth!
Calbear is a class act,
I'm sure you can understand , my side ,as i can yours.
The Great Karl Mecklenberg! 
OVER has to be the play tonight since no one can figure which CAL team will show up. If Cal shows up, they'll dominate, but if they're in a party mood, forget about it, UTES will roll.
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