Fresno State versus California Preview

When: 9-3-2011, 7:00 PM EST
Where: San Francisco, CA

TV: Comcast Sports Net-California, Bulldog Sports Network KMJ

                                            Fresno State                                         California

2010 Record:                                        8-5                                                                          5-7

Ended Season:                                 Lost Bowl                                                               Regular Season, No Bowl

Points Scored Average:                      29.0                                                                        25.8

Points Allowed Average:                   30.0                                                                        22.6

Total Offense Per Game:                   370.6                                                                      333.9

Passing YPG:                                         220.0                                                                      175.1

Rushing YPG:                                        150.6                                                                      158.8

Overall Breakdown: Fresno State had a moderately successful season in 2010 making yet another bowl game in winning 8 games but were somewhat disappointed by the overall result. It seemed that every game versus bowl quality opposition was a failure losing to Hawaii, Nevada, Boise, and Northern Illinois as well as a head scratching loss to a very bad Ole Miss squad. The offense moved the football and averaged a solid 370+ yards per game with 29 points per game. The defense was porous giving up 30 points per game holding only 3 opponents to under 20 points. The defense must step up for the Bulldogs to make another bowl in 2011. California had a very disappointing 2010 season missing a bowl game with a 5-7 record. The Bears could only string together back to back wins once beating UC Davis and Colorado to start the season. The defense was not bad but could not stop the upper echelon teams (Nevada, USC, Oregon, Stanford) from scoring pretty much at will. Cal is expected to gain a lot of experience from the 2010 season and is expected to make a bowl game in 2011. Overall, this is a pretty even matchup between two teams that played below their lofty standards in 2010 and relish the chance to show what type of squads they really are in 2011. Cal should win by 7 or so although Fresno could easily take this game to get the 2011 season started in impressive fashion.