BEARS.....CAUGHT IN A JAR AND SHOT BY THE LOCAL SHERIFF

I know I haven't even posted my breakdown of the first two games yet, but they are mostly done and will be put up soon.

Right now however the most important thing is the preview of tomorrows game, #8 Cal visiting the 2 votes by coaches (Brew has voted us in every poll, someone joined last week) Minnesota Golden Gophers!!!!!!!

On paper, this game is over. 14 point favorites, Javed Best leading the running attack (and who may have been fast enough to compete at an Olympic level in sprints), a QB who seems to be finding his grove, a WR core that is very solid, one of the best backfields in the country, and solid lines on both sides of the ball. They also rolled over Maryland who has been solid for the past decade or so, blew out Eastern Washington, and are looking to finally get that monkey off their back and win the Pac 10. I have to say they are right now a Title Contender.

Not good news for the gophers. SO probably the spread is right....or is it?

Before we all jump to conclusions on how good Cal is, lets look a few things first.

1) Cal dominates at home. Going back to last year the trend continues. 20+ point winners over their last 6 home games. That's good. They have lost 4 straight road games. That is not good. That includes losses at Maryland and Arizona.....neither team really wows me. This game is on the road for them.

2) Maryland barely snuck by James Madison last week....at home. Who is James Madison??? A FBS team. They play in the conference as Maine (yes they apparently have a football team) Hofstra, Northeastern (you know they are bad when its just a direction, not even a direction in a state) and the famous Delaware (Joe Flacco). In other words, Maryland sucks.

3) Cal beat Eastern Washington last week. My grandma and her bridge players could take down Eastern Washington.

4) Cal Plays @ Oregon next week to open the conference schedule. That is a BIG game for them because its a winnable game on the road and they need to win that to have a chance at the conference.
4a) They play USC the next week. Oregon is overrated every year. Every year. They are still always rated though. Cal is already worrying about whats to come in the following weeks. The coaches know they have to show up, the players can say what they want but they are looking ahead.

With all of things going against Cal, its up to the Gophers to play their best and give them a run. My keys to the game:

1) Adam Webber needs to step up his play and play he did last year before the injury. He is a GREAT QB, he has one of the best receivers in the game and a bunch of young receivers waiting to break out.
1a) We NEED a second receiver to step up his game

2) O LINE. Please, just knock the guy across from you on his arse. If they can improve their play from the first two games and protect Webber plus open up holes, we can put up some big points.

3) D Line. I'm not worried about our LB's. I think our DB's are very good. Our line however needs to win the battle in the trenches. Best is gonna make plays, he just is. That is what superstars do. If we can win the battle at go though it will make it a lot harder for him. If he has to juke and reverse directions in the backfield instead of just printing forward it gives our line backers time to read the play and get to him early.

4) Special teams. This is a battle we can win and need to win. Lets get a big play out of a return team or block a kick. Lets make it happen. WE have a great kicker. He will be a difference maker.

All said, the weather looks great for us. The crowd is going to be wild. Our players aren't looking forward to ANY game this year. This is the biggest game of the season for us. It has to be.

Final Score:

Cal 31, Gophers 34.

(thanks to Common for the title)