The availability of Utah quarterback Cameron Rising remains the burning question as the No. 16 Utes prepare to host Cal in a Pac-12 Conference game Saturday in Salt Lake City. Rising was the MVP of the Pac-12 title game last season but then suffered a significant knee injury against Penn State during the Rose Bowl and needed surgery to repair a torn ACL, meniscus and MCL. He has seemed to be on the cusp of returning since early in the season, but the senior has yet to plaY. Regardless of whether he plays or not, we like Cal here. Cal (3-3, 1-2) has alternated wins and losses this season. The Golden Bears also are coming off a loss to Oregon State, but they made things interesting in the 52-40 defeat in Berkeley last week, they trailed by just three points at the start of the fourth quarter before surrendering 17 consecutive points. Cal has used three starting quarterbacks this season but is expected to come back with freshman Fernando Mendoza, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception, in his first college start last weekend. We think Mendoza plays better, and maybe got some of the jitters out of his system, and Cal does have the 42nd ranked offense in ypg in the country. Let's roll with the Golden Bears to hang tough.