California Golden Bears at Nevada Wolf Pack
Friday, 9/17/10, 10:00 PM EDT, TV: ESPN2
Opening Point Spread: California -1
Current Betting Line: California -2.5
Opening Total: 63
Current Total: 65.5
Current Moneyline: California -135/Nevada +115
Lines Taken From Bookmaker Sportsbook
Cal visits Nevada in a matchup of unbeaten teams in a nationally televised ESPN2 games at Mackay Stadium. The Bears will bring in the nation’s top defense in total defense (161.0 ypg) and take on the country’s best offense (592.0 ypg). The team has actually averaged more points than tonight’s opponent, averaging 52 points per game while the Wolf Pack tally 50 per contest. Friday’s contest is the first road game of the season and the first time the Golden Bears have played a regular-season game on a day other than Saturday since their 41-13 victory at New Mexico State in 2005. The team has tallied victories over FCS opponent UC Davis in the opener (52-3) and then hammering future Pac-10 foe Colorado of the Big 12 (52-7).
The Golden Bears will come in knowing the schools holds a dominating 21-1-1 all-time advantage over the Wolf Pack, but the teams have only squared off once since 1945. Cal has an overall record of 60-12-1 in 73 games against schools currently in the WAC. The stop unit allowed 81 yards of total offense against the Aggies and followed that with a performance of limiting the Buffaloes to 241 yards. Offensively, the squad is tied for the conference lead in the red zone, scoring 10 touchdowns and two field goals for a perfect percentage in 12 trips. QB Kevin Riley leads the unit, ranking first in the Pac-10 and third in the nation with a passer efficiency rating of 205.27. He continues to lead the Pac-10’s active quarterbacks in career victories (17), touchdowns and games played (30). The team is 3-8 against the college football spreads versus WAC opponents since the 1992 season and the total is 4-2 O/U in those contests.
Nevada stays home after an impressive 51-6 blowout victory over Colorado State to host one of the most anticipated games of the year. This is the first-ever visit by Cal to Mackay Stadium, as both teams are currently receiving votes in each national poll. The Wolf Pack are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 1995 and the team returned 15 starters from last year’s team that went 8-5 overall and 7-1 in WAC play. This year is also the first campaign since 1991 that Nevada will open the season with three consecutive home games. Overall, the team will play at Mackay seven times in 2010. The Wolf Pack are fully focused on this contest in front of a major audience and have a trip to Provo, Utah lined up next week to tackle the BYU Cougars.
The Wolf Pack are known for the pistol offense and its unit is led by signal caller Colin Kaepernick. Last week, he became the ninth player in NCAA history to rush for 3,000 yards and throw for 3,000 yards in his career. Since the offense was created prior to the 2005 season, the offense has been near the top nationally, including becoming the first team to have three 1,000-yard rushers. Over the last five years, Nevada ranks fourth in yards per game on the ground (241.94), trailing only Navy, Air Force and West Virginia. The Wolf Pack are a disappointing 3-8 ATS in non-conference games over the last three years.
Bettors will be interested in knowing that the Golden Bears are a solid 6-1 ATS in their last seven games in September. Nevada comes in with a 26-12 ATS mark in their last 38 home games. For picks on this game and others check out the college football predictions page of our site. We are currently riding a 14-3 ATS run in college football.
