GAME THREAD: Cal hosts No. 15 Virginia
GAME INFO
Who: Cal (5-3, 2-2 ACC; last game: 42-34 2OT loss to Virginia Tech) vs. No. 15 Virginia (7-1, 4-0 ACC; last game: 17-16 OT win over UNC)
When: 12:45 p.m. PST
Where: California Memorial Stadium | Berkeley, California
TV/streaming: ESPN2 | Mike Couzens (PxP), Kirk Morrison (Analyst), Dawn Davenport (Sideline)
Radio: 810 AM | Justin Allegri (PxP), Mike Pawlawski (Analyst), Ben Ross (Sideline) | SiriusXM Ch. 84
All-time series: First meeting
Spread: UVA -5.5 | O/U – 52.5 (via BetMGM)
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS
Total offense: Cal – No. 104 (341.1 YPG) | UVA – No. 31 (436.9 YPG)
Scoring offense: Cal – No. 87 (25.0 PPG) | UVA – No. 18 (37.1 PPG)
Total defense: Cal – No. 47 (342.8 YPG) | UVA – No. 54 (352.8 YPG)
Scoring defense: Cal – No. 69 (24.4 PPG) | UVA – No. 51 (22.4 PPG)
Cal plays host to its first ranked opponent of the season Saturday when it hosts No. 15 Virginia. Justin Wilcox‘s team has alternated wins and losses over its last six games. The Bears and Cavaliers have never played one another in football, so it will add even more intrigue Saturday.
Tony Elliot’s squad has been a surprise this season in the ACC. UVA was picked to finish 14th in the preseason media poll but has reeled off six consecutive wins. That has helped the Cavaliers keep pace with Georgia Tech in the race for the conference crown.
Cal is still looking to reach bowl eligibility this season. A win over a ranked opponent would certainly bring some positive momentum. The Bears sit at .500 in conference play and are looking to build on a 6-7 record last year.
The weekly availability report featured another starter listed as out for Cal. Safety Aiden Manutai, who has collected 27 tackles this season, will not play Saturday. The freshman is now the second starting safety to go down for the Bears. Isaiah Crosby went down with an injury earlier in the season that will continue to keep him out.
It is a critical game for Cal’s season with just two home games remaining.
We invite you to join other Bears’ fans in the conversation throughout Saturday’s game. Visit our live game thread for updates from California Memorial Stadium.
>>> Click here to join the Golden Bear Report live game thread <<<
