Golden Bears vs. Beavers NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The California Golden Bears have had a disappointing year in 2012, and at this point, they’re simply trying to get out of the season with their heads held high. At just 3-8, the team from Berekely, Calif. travels to Reser Stadium this weekend, where they’ll take on the No. 16 Oregon State Beavers.
The Beavers have lost two of their last three contests after starting the season perfect, while the Bears are in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
California Golden Bears (3-8) vs No. 16 Oregon State Beavers (7-2)
Saturday November 17, 2012
Reser Stadium, CORVALLIS, ORE.
10:30 PM ET
Moneyline: from GTBets.eu
Spread:
O/U:
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears have underperformed this season, and with the Oregon State Beavers as the final piece in their ugly schedule, it’s just one more game until they can take the rest of the year off. The team from Berkeley has struggled both offensively and defensively this season. On offense they score just 23.8 points per game, which is only good enough for 92nd in the country, and on defense, they allow 30.5 points, which is only good enough for 88th.
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The score of Cal’s game last week against the Oregon Ducks may look like a blowout, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. The Golden Bears hung tight with the Ducks in the first half, as the score was just 17-10 in Oregon’s favor as the first half wound down—it would end up being 24-10 at halftime. Oregon broke away with their high-powered offense in the third and fourth quarters, so luckily for Cal, Oregon State has yet to prove they can be as explosive on offense.
The Beavers have been a good passing team this season, but they’re not always turning their passing yards into touchdowns. They’re 24th in the nation in passing yards per game (297.2 per game), but they’re just 82nd in points scored (25.9). The problem for Cal is, they struggle mightily against the pass. The Bears are just 104th in the nation is passing yards allowed at 263.8 per game, which makes it tough to believe Oregon State is going to have trouble sending the ball through the air and into the end zone. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers do not run the football, but balance isn’t going to be necessary against a California defense that has been so atrocious. The Beavers’ in-state rivals, the Oregon Ducks, showed last week that you can beat this team without running (they scored six touchdowns through the air), and that’s what Oregon State will try and do come Saturday.
Defensively, the Beavers have been much better against the run than against the pass. They are 10th in the country in rushing defense, which is going to be a big part of their success this weekend. Cal is just a middle-of-the-road running team (44th in the nation), but it’s a far more reliable part of their game than passing (79th in the nation). Cal’s rushing game will match up against Oregon State’s rushing defense, but the edge should go to the Beavers all game long.
With OSU’s lack of offensive production, this game has the potential to be closer. However, with Cal’s defensive deficiencies, the Beavers have a chance to blow this thing open with their passing game, which is what they’ll try and do at home this weekend.
Score Prediction: Oregon St. 24 – California 17
