Colorado Buffaloes at California Golden Bears
Memorial Stadium – Berkeley, California
Saturday, September 27, 2014, 4:00 pm Eastern, TV: Pac 12 Network
Opening Line: California -11 1/2
Current Line: California -14
Opening Total: 67
Current Total: 67 1/2
Opening Money Line: California -361 / Colorado +319
Current Money Line: California -600 / Colorado +450
The 2-2 Colorado Buffaloes and 2-1 California Golden Bears meet Saturday in Berkeley. Both teams are 0-1 in Pac 12 play so this is an important early season clash in the conference. California leads the series 4-3 against Colorado. The Buffaloes won last year in Boulder 41-24.
Colorado is coached by Mike MacIntyre. The Buffaloes have wins at Massachusetts 41-38 and at home against Hawaii 21-12 last week. Colorado has a loss to Colorado State 31-17 in Denver and a home loss to Arizona State 38-24. The Buffaloes are 2-2 ATS and the total is 1-3 this season. Colorado was an 8.5 point favorite against Hawaii and the total was 58.
Cal is coached by Sonny Dykes. The Golden Bears have wins at Northwestern 31-24 and at home against Sacramento State 55-14. California lost at Arizona last week 49-45 despite leading by 18 points in the fourth quarter on a Hail Mary pass from the Wildcats. The Golden Bears are 3-0 ATS and the total is 2-1 this season. Cal was an 8 point underdog against Arizona last week.
Colorado is being outscored 30-26 this season. The Buffaloes are averaging 450 yards per game on offense including 290 passing and 160 rushing yards per game. On defense, Colorado is allowing 371 total yards per game including 190 passing and 181 rushing yards per game. The Buffaloes are -2 in turnovers with 6 giveaways. Colorado is averaging 84 penalty yards per game and opponents average 55. The Buffaloes are 33/79 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 21/61. Colorado has forced 9 sacks and allowed 6 this season. The Buffaloes are 12/13 scoring in the red zone with 9 touchdowns and opponents are 17/17 with 12 touchdowns.
Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau has completed 64% of his passes for1,124 yards with 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, plus 22 carries for 51 yards. Running back Christian Powell has 49 carries for 249 yards and a touchdown, plus 5 catches. Tony Jones, Phillip Lindsay and Michael Adkins II will also get carries. Receiver Nelson Spruce has 37 catches for 518 yards and 7 touchdowns. Shay Fields has 27 catches for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Cal is outscoring teams 44-29 this season. California is #15 in scoring and #90 in points allowed out of 128 FBS teams. The Golden Bears are #17 in total offense nationally at 523 yards per game including the 13th best passing attack at 335 yards per game. The rushing game is #50 nationally at 187 yards per game. On defense, California is allowing 427 yards per game including 317 passing yards and 111 rushing yards. The Golden Bears are #92 in total offense, #121 in pass defense, and #27 in rushing defense. Cal is +1 in turnovers with 5 giveaways. Cal is averaging 87 penalty yards per game and their opponents are averaging 54 yards per game. The Bears are 27/53 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 26/64. California has forced 8 sacks this season and allowed 5. The Golden Bears are 12/12 scoring in the red zone with 9 touchdowns, and opponents are 10/13 with 7 touchdowns.
Cal quarterback Jared Goff has completed 65.1% of his passes for 890 yards with 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Running back Daniel Lasco has 37 carries for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns. Khalfani Muhammad has 28 carries for 138 yards and 3 touchdowns. Five Cal receivers have at least 8 catches. Bryce Treggs and Chris Harper have two touchdown catches, and Kenny Lawler has 3. Five Cal defensive players are on the injury report.
Colorado is 4-0 ATS in Pac 12 games, 5-1 after passing for more than 280 yards, 5-2 overall, 8-18 against teams with winning records, 16-37 in road games, 10-25 against teams with winning home records, 1-4 on fieldturf, and 1-6 after allowing less than 170 passing yards.
Cal is 5-2 ATS after passing for more than 280 yards, 2-5 after allowing more than 450 total yards, 8-20 overall, 3-8 in September and after allowing 280 passing yards or more, 4-11 after gaining more than 450 yards, 3-9 on fieldturf, 6-20 after a straight up loss, 3-11 after allowing 40 points or more, 3-12 in Pac 12 games, and 2-9 at home.
Both of these teams have been awful in recent years, but they might have turned the corner towards respectability this season. I think 14 is a lot of points and i like Colorado to keep it close.
