Do you like points? Well then we’ve got just the matchup of mediocre Pac-12 teams for you. Both of these teams have the potential to put a lot of points on the board as Air Raid coaches Mike Leach and Sonny Dykes square off.
How to watch Cal vs. Washington State: Game guide, TV schedule, streaming, odds
Points! Points! Points!
Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports
It will be an interesting matchup for both teams. Washington State lost three of four games to start the year, and the Cougars are in danger of not going bowling, but they beat Utah last week — a week after the Utes pounded Michigan at the Big House — and the advanced stats say that they’re better than their record.
California is another interesting case. The Bears are obviously immensely improved in year two under Dykes, and they’re an Arizona Hail Mary away from being undefeated. However, they’ve been inconsistent at times and nearly lost to Colorado last week. This won’t be an easy game for Cal, especially in Pullman.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Game time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV: Pac-12 Network
Online streaming: Pac-12 Live
Our sites on these teams
The numbers
Rankings and records: Cal is 3-1 and unranked in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. Washington State is 2-3 and also unranked.
Vegas: Washington State opened as a 4-point favorite, but is now favored by 3 points. The over/under is 78.5!!!
Weather forecast: Sunny, with a high of 74 and a low of 49.
Two things at stake
Is Cal for real? A convincing win in Pullman would get more people on board. A loss would show there’s still a lot of work to be done.
This is a gut-check game for Washington State. Are the Cougars at least in the middle of the pack in the Pac-12? They have to win this game to prove that. Moreover, it will have pretty substantial bowl game implications.
One big matchup
Cal passing offense vs. Washington State passing defense: While Coug Center argues that stopping the Cal run game will be the key for Washington State, the Bears’ passing offense is still the biggest threat. Cal quarterback Jared Goff has been much more efficient in his sophomore season, and the Bears rank fifth in passing efficiency, according to Football Outsiders. While the Cougars might need more work on run defense overall, they aren’t particularly good at defending the Bears’ strength, either. If Wazzu can get some interceptions and limit Goff, then the Cougars should win.
Further reading
Read Coug Center for more on Washington State and California Golden Blogs for more on Cal.
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