Cal-Wake Forest Thread: Bears Hope to Defy Oddsmakers Again

Coming off a win over favored Virginia Tech, Cal takes on the ACC's second-place team

Ashten Emory scored two touchdowns in Cal's win over Virginia Tech | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Cal goes after its third straight victory over an AP Top-25 team tonight -- yeah, I was surprised, too -- when the Bears host No. 21 Wake Forest. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

Despite all of its issues last season, Cal won its final two matchups vs. ranked opponents, beating No. 15 Louisville on the road and No. 21 SMU.

The Bears (3-3, 2-1 ACC) can climb into a tie for second place in the ACC with an upset victory ovefr the Deamon Deacons (5-1, 3-1). A win also would make Cal 3-1 in conference play for the first time since 2008.

The Bears are expected to have a healthy quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele today after he was upgraded Friday night to "probable." The sophomore sat out last week's 25-20 win over Virginia Tech while in concussion protocol, but his backup, Colorado State transfer Jackson Brousseau, directed a turnover-free offense.

This is Cal's final home game until the Nov. 21 Big Game against Stanford. The Bears play their next three on the road, beginning next Saturday at No. 24 SMU.

We'll be back to provide updates throughout tonight's game.

COIN FLIP: Wake Forest won the toss and defers to the second half, The Demon Deacons will kickoff and defend the south end zone. Backup QB Jackson Brousseau is one of three team captains and participated in the coin flip.

10:05 1st Q: Cal punts and downs the ball at the Wake Forest 1-yard line. Brousseau started at QB for Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and was 5 for 6 for 21 yards on a drive that stalled at the Demon Deacons' 44-yard line. Cal 0, Wake Forest 0

8:20 1st Q: The Demon Deacons slice through the Cal defense, going 99 yards in five plays to take the lead. Gio Lopez was 4 for 5 for 99 yards, capped by a 39-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dominick Barry, who was all by himself in the middle and raced untouched into the end zone. Wake Forest 7, Cal 0

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Some pre-game reading material:

-- Our game preview, with TV info, injury updates and key facts

-- Here's the latest with the Friday night availability update

-- Wake Forest beat writer answers 5 Questions about the Demon Deacons

-- Cal pays tribute tonight to a legendary local band

-- What Wake Forest coach says about the Cal defense

-- Wake QB Gio Lopez kept Tosh Lupoi up nights this week

-- The Cal basketball team debuted Friday night, winning its exhibition at LMU

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