| The Cal Golden Bears will try and build on the 8-5 | | | | Boise State after the 2009 season saw his |
| season in 2009 with plenty of experience | | | | defense allow close to 400 yards per game. It is |
| returning along with a nice mix of new players. | | | | not often that a college program can pull in a |
| Many projections have the Bears finishing in the | | | | former NFL coordinator, but that is what Cal did. |
| middle of the Pac 10 this season, but with a few | | | | Clancy Pendergast will take over for Gregory in |
| breaks they could be challenging rival USC for the | | | | what many believe to be an upgrade after |
| conference crown. Last season ended with a 10 | | | | Pendergast spent the past 15 years in the NFL. |
| point loss to Utah (future conference member) in | | | | Cutting down on the 267 yards given up through |
| the Poinsettia Bowl. Jeff Tedford enters his 9th | | | | the air last year will take a collective team effort. |
| season as head coach and has compiled a 67-35 | | | | The Bears should be much more blitz happy |
| record. Cal is +700 to win the Pac 10 this season. | | | | under the new dc and linebacker Mike Mohamed |
| Running the ball was a major factor in the | | | | should continue to flourish. Mohamed eclipsed the |
| success of the offense last season. Jahvid Best | | | | 100 tackle mark last season and is one of the |
| teamed with Shane Vereen to accumulate over | | | | best at his position in the Pac 10. Cameron Jordan |
| 1800 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. Vereen | | | | is a classic defensive end in the 3-4 scheme. His 6 |
| returns for his junior season and is finally getting | | | | sacks were second on the team in 09' and he is |
| his chance to be the primary ball carrier for the | | | | primed for a breakout year. There isn't much star |
| Golden Bears. Coach Tedford has produced NFL | | | | power on this side of the ball compared to the |
| caliber talent at quarterback and running back in | | | | offensive end, but they will need to be just as |
| his time at Cal. Kevin Riley saw considerable action | | | | good collectively to reach a quality bowl game this |
| as a sophomore and parlayed that into an | | | | year. |
| outstanding junior year in which he threw for | | | | View our expert college football picks from the |
| 2850 yards and 18 scores with only eight | | | | top handicappers in the business. |
| interceptions. He is the prototypical drop back | | | | Cal will open the 2010 season at home against UC |
| passer Tedford looks for and seldom makes | | | | Davis. The Golden Bears will get an up close look |
| mistakes. The Bears possess a strong receiving | | | | at new conference member Colorado (will join in |
| core that is anchored by Marvin Jones and his 43 | | | | 2011) in week 2. They face tough road tests at |
| catches from a year ago. WR Jeremy Ross | | | | USC, Arizona and Oregon State. The game at |
| should see his production increase catching the | | | | Arizona on Sept 25th should separate the |
| ball, but he is a bigger factor in the return game | | | | contender/pretender in a game that features two |
| where he averaged 21 yards in nine punt returns. | | | | middle of the road teams. Three homes games |
| The offensive will try and start a new streak of | | | | to finish out the season could give the Bears |
| 1000 yard rushers under Tedford as their streak | | | | plenty of momentum heading into their bowl |
| of seven was snapped by 48 yards last season. | | | | match-up. I predict a 7-5 finish for the kids out of |
| Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory bolted for | | | | Berkeley. |
