PREMIUM
Rogers' NCAAF Late Show
(NCAAF) Texas vs. California,
09/17/2016 6:30 PM, Score: 43 - 50
Point Spread: -7.00 | 102.00 Texas (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -7.00 | 102.00 Texas (Away)
Result: Loss
Texas: The Longhorns opened the 2016 season with a Sunday night (Sept. 4) home game against then-No. 10 Notre Dame. Texas was optimistic about the upcoming season, after going 11-14 in Strong's first two years at Austin, as Texas returned 15 starters this season. However, since senior QB Tyrone Swoopes hadn't shown the ability to really take command of the team these last two seasons, Strong gave the QB job to true freshman Shane Buechele. He became the first first true freshman to start for the Longhorns since Bobby Layne way back in 1944 and helped lead Texas to a 50-47 double-OT win over the Irish. Buechele threw for 280 yards and two TDs in his debut, although Swooppes ran for 53 yards and three TDs, including the game-winner. However, it was all Buechele in Texas's 41-7 win over UTEP last Saturday, as he completed 22 of 27 for 244 yards with four TDs and not a single INT. The game against UTEP was a "no contest" but questions remain about the Texas secondary after Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer threw five TD passes in the opener.
California: Jared Goff was the LA Rams' first pick in the NFL draft but his replacement, senior transfer Davis Webb (Texas Tech), has been superb. He's completing 62.7 percent after two games, throwing for 963 yards with nine TDs and three INTs. The Bears opened with a 51-31 win over Hawaii (Aug. 26 in Australia) but lost last Saturday 45-40 at San Diego State. Cal graduated some key leaders across the table defensively from 2015 and it showed against the Aztecs, as Donnel Pumphrey ran for 281 yards and three TDs. Cal's offense totaled 604 yards but needed a TD with under a minute to go in the game to sneak under the pointspread.
The pick: Jared Goff (268 yards with three TDs and no INTs) helped lead Cal to a 45-44 win last year in Austin, and here in Berkeley, I expect Webb to give the Texas D fits. However, with Buechele (71.% / 6 TDs / 1 INT) now leading the Texas attack, the Longhorns are much better equipped to trade scores with Cal. Making Buechele's job easier is the fact that Cal ranks 125th nationally defending the run (allows 291.0 YPG), which will make his play-action plays much more effective. Cal beat Texas last year in Austin (just barely, 45-44) and that Texas team was a mere shell of this one. Note that Texas had won the first five matchups against Cal by a combined score of 155-28! Texas is an 8* play.
California: Jared Goff was the LA Rams' first pick in the NFL draft but his replacement, senior transfer Davis Webb (Texas Tech), has been superb. He's completing 62.7 percent after two games, throwing for 963 yards with nine TDs and three INTs. The Bears opened with a 51-31 win over Hawaii (Aug. 26 in Australia) but lost last Saturday 45-40 at San Diego State. Cal graduated some key leaders across the table defensively from 2015 and it showed against the Aztecs, as Donnel Pumphrey ran for 281 yards and three TDs. Cal's offense totaled 604 yards but needed a TD with under a minute to go in the game to sneak under the pointspread.
The pick: Jared Goff (268 yards with three TDs and no INTs) helped lead Cal to a 45-44 win last year in Austin, and here in Berkeley, I expect Webb to give the Texas D fits. However, with Buechele (71.% / 6 TDs / 1 INT) now leading the Texas attack, the Longhorns are much better equipped to trade scores with Cal. Making Buechele's job easier is the fact that Cal ranks 125th nationally defending the run (allows 291.0 YPG), which will make his play-action plays much more effective. Cal beat Texas last year in Austin (just barely, 45-44) and that Texas team was a mere shell of this one. Note that Texas had won the first five matchups against Cal by a combined score of 155-28! Texas is an 8* play.
