College Football Game Preview: #11 Texas vs Cal

What an exciting match-up this was last year. Jared Goff, now with the Rams, was able to provide the nation with a shoot out game against the Texas Longhorns. A game that had begun to turn the tide in the Longhorns favor saw a missed extra point all but solidify the Bears win.

Fast forward to 2016 and both teams look vastly different. However, a shootout could still be in store for fans on both sides.

The Cal Bears feature gunslinger Davis Webb, the former Texas Tech quarterback. The Longhorns have one of the best true freshmen in the country and a run game that’s to be feared on every carry.

Both teams up to this point are averaging over 40 points per game which could see this match up reaching last year’s score of 45-44.

The key names have changed but many of the strengths have remained the same. Texas is hoping to live up to their number 11 ranking while Cal is trying to pull the upset in Berkeley.

What to look for…

The Bears will be putting the Longhorns secondary to the test with their strong passing attack. Davis Webb was a gunslinger at Texas Tech and the Bears want him to continue that drive as their starting quarterback. Chad Hansen has been the primary beneficiary for Webbs aerial attack.

Through two games he already has 350 yards receiving (second in the country), 100 more than his season total last year. His 28 receptions are also first in the nation. For the Longhorns, they’ll emphasize on the run game and play action pass.

Shane Buechele has done well as a true freshman and has the compliments of two bulldozing running backs in the backfield. The Longhorns will more than likely try to establish the run game early on.

Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back D /

Key Players

The Smash Bros

D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren are arguably two of the most physically gifted backs in the country. They both stand at over 6’1, 250 pounds as running backs. Foreman sat out last weeks game against UTEP healing from an injury suffered against Notre Dame. Warren did his part but is looking to be the breakout player everyone saw last year. If the Longhorns can get the run game rolling they can control the clock and slow down Cal’s passing attack.

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Davis Webb

This game can either be fun or extremely ugly depending on the play of Webb. It’s going to take a consistent effort from him to be able to keep Cal in the game and he’s going to have to hope his defense can back him up with a few stops. It hasn’t been pretty for the Bears in shootouts against Hawaii and San Diego State so far though. A win against the Longhorns could be season changing for the Bears and may increase some much-needed draft stock for Webb.

Dylan Haines

Haines returns to the starting lineup after an injury against Notre Dame. The senior safety has shown that he can be a textbook player and hold down the secondary when called upon. He isn’t the most athletically gifted player in the secondary, but when you need a play to be made you can look towards Haines for that execution. His return to the defense should help slow down the aerial attack from Cal.

Next: Game Preview: Auburn vs Texas A&M

Prediction

The Bears have struggled against much lesser teams than the Longhorns. They’re simply just not very talented and are trying to scrape the pieces together after the departure of Jared Goff.

While the Longhorns have work to do on defense, they should be able to pull it together against Webb and the Bears.

Texas 45 Cal 14

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