Cal Football: Preview Box for Saturday's Game Against Oregon State
Saturday’s home game against Oregon State is Homecoming for Cal, and the first 10,000 fans will receive Oski bobbleheads.
Here are the important facts for Saturday’s contest:
CAL (4-2, 1-2 Pac-12) vs. OREGON STATE (2-4, 1-2 Pac-12)
SITE: Memorial Stadium Berkeley, Calif.
WHEN: Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
TV: Pac-12 Network – Kate Scott (Play-By-Play), Chad Brown (Analyst), Sam Peszek (Sideline Reporter).
RADIO: KGO 810 AM - Joe Starkey (Play-By-Play), Mike Pawlawski (Analyst), Todd McKim (Sideline Reporter)
BETTING LINE: Cal is favored by 11 points (as of Thursday); Over/Under – 52
WEATHER FORECAST: Saturday will bring partly cloudy skies to Berkeley, with the temperature expected to reach a high of 70 degrees in the afternoon. Humidity will be high at 72 percent, but there is less than a 10 percent chance of rain.
CAL-OREGON STATE HISTORY: This will be the 72nd meeting between the two schools and Cal leads the all-time series 38-33. The Bears have won four of the past five matchups against the Beavers, including last year’s 49-7 Cal victory in Corvallis.
CAL STORYLINES: Cal, which is coming off a bye, has lost two in a row after its 4-0 start earned the Bears a No. 15 national ranking . . . Last year, Cal lost three straight after a 3-0 start earned it a national ranking . . . Quarterback Chase Garbers will miss his second straight game after suffering a shoulder injury in the second quarter of the September 27 loss to Arizona State. He is out indefinitely but is likely to return at some undetermined date this season. Devon Modster will make his second start as Cal’s quarterback in Saturday’s game. The Bears have score just 17 points in the six-plus quarters in which Modster was Cal’s quarterback . . . Three key Cal players are questionable for Saturday’s game – wide receiver Kekoa Crawford, center Michael Saffell and offensive tackle Valentino Daltoso. Cal’s offensive line has been riddled by injuries and if either Daltoso or Saffell is sidelined Saturday, the Bears’ running game might to struggle. . . . Cal has held its last 13 opponents under 25 points, the longest active streak in the country.
OREGON STATE STORYLINES: The Beavers lost to Utah 52-7 at home last week after beating UCLA 48-31 on the road the week before . . . Oregon State has committed just two turnovers all season, which is tied for the fewest in the nation . . . Oregon State is looking to record consecutive road wins for the first time since 2013, which also the last time the Beavers had a winning season and a bowl berth. . . Oregon State has allowed more than 30 points to all five of its FBS opponents this season . . . Beavers running back Jermar Jefferson, who rushed for 1,380 yards last season as a freshman, has missed the past two games with an ankle injury, but he is listed as a starter on Oregon State’s depth chart for this week (although that does not guarantee he will play) . . . Oregon State’s star is wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins, whose 709 receiving yards rank first in the Pac-12 and fourth in the nation. He had just three catches for 24 yards against Cal last season when he was slowed by injuries . . . . Beavers QB Jake Luton threw five touchdown passes with no interceptions in the win over UCLA but had no touchdown passes and his first interception of the season in the loss to Utah.
CAL PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Devon Modster (46.9 percent completion rate); RB Christopher Brown Jr. (71.8 rushing yards per game, 14 receptions); WR Trevon Clark (10 catches over the past two games); LB Evan Weaver (second in the nation in tackles at 14.0 per game); S Ashtyn Davis (third on the team in tackles, six career interceptions); CB Camryn Bynum (Cal’s best cover man).
OREGON STATE PLAYERS TO WATCH: WR Isaiah Hodgins (leads Pac-12 in receptions (51) and receiving yards per game (118.2) and tied for the lead in touchdown catches with nine); QB Jake Luton (sixth-year senior has 14 TD passes, 1 interception); RB Jermar Jefferson (might return after a two-game absence, rushed for 1,380 yards last year); RB Artavis Pierce (83.8 rushing yards per game, 6.8 yards per carry); LB Hamilcar Rashed (leads Pac-12 in sacks with six).
CAL GAME NOTES, STATISTICS, DEPTH CHART: Click here
OREGON STATE NOTES, STATISTICS, DEPTH CHART: Click here
JAKE'S PICK: Cal 28, Oregon State 13
JEFF’s PICK: Cal 27, Oregon State 10
NICK DASCHEL’S PICK (Oregonian reporter): Cal 27, Oregon State 20
FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OREGON STATE ANSWERED BY NICK DASCHEL OF THE OREGONIAN: Click here
TICKETS: Click here. Or at Stub Hub: Click here
PARKING: Click Here
GAME-DAY STADIUM POLICIES: Click here
CAL CAMPUS MAP: Click here
Cover photo of Artavis Pierce by Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports
