2018 Cal Golden Bears College Football Betting Preview

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2018

 

Justin Wilcox got some things done in his first season at Cal, finishing at 5-7, which has led to overwhelming hype ahead of the 2018 campaign with a bowl Game the hope. The Golden Bears had some nice wins (Ole Miss, Wazzu), but still only managed two Pac-12 wins and gave up points in bunches. This team won’t win the conference, but it is expected to be better, although the spring odds at 5Dimes Sportsbook still have them only ahead of Oregon State in the North with an over/under of 6.5 wins.

To improve, the Golden Bears need a little more from their quarterback after Ross Bowers (18 TDs, 12 INTs) did the minimum last year, partly due to a leaky line. Of course, Bowers doesn’t have the job won just yet and will compete with senior Chase Forrest and South Carolina transfer Brandon McIlwain. Assuming that battle goes into the fall, the starter may not be named until the first week. Either way, that may not matter because the running Game should keep the offense afloat behind five returning starters up front and running back Patrick LAird, who ran for 1,127 yards and eight touchdowns on 5.9 yards per carry. If he can improve on that, this offense should surpass more than 30 points per Game. It also helps the quarterback that all of the top receivers are back with Vic Wharton (871 yards, 5 TDs) and Kanawai Noa (788 yards, 4 TDs).

The defense improved in 2017 giving up 28.4 points per Game and has hopes of doing that again in Tim DeRuyter’s second season as coordinator. There are eight starters back with someone returning at every level, which should lead to improvement. Jordan Kunaszyk gives consistency at middle linebacker in the 3-4 scheme, while Cameron Goode can be a force on the outside in only his second year. All of the young pieces are back in the secondary with a couple sophomores at corner and juniors at safety. This group isn’t going to be dominant, but with more experience, they should take another step forward.

To reach a bowl, the Golden Bears may need to win all three non-Conference Games, which includes UNC and the trip to BYU. Neither is easy, but they’ll be favored in both. That sets up for three wins in Conference play with a few options from the home Games against UCLA and Colorado to trips to Arizona and Washington State. Six wins is a good prediction for this team, although more could be on the table if everything comes to fruition in a Pac-12 that may be a step below last year. There’s reason to believe this team can make a bowl behind an experienced offensive line and a defense that can take another step under Wilcox and DeRuyter.

2018 Cal Golden Bears Football Schedule

Sept. 1 vs. North Carolina

Sept. 8 at BYU

Sept. 15 vs. Idaho State

Sept. 29 vs. Oregon

Oct. 6 at Arizona

Oct. 13 vs. UCLA

Oct. 20 at Oregon State

Oct. 27 vs. Washington

Nov. 3 at Washington State

Nov. 10 at USC

Nov. 17 vs. Stanford

Nov. 24 vs. Colorado

 

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