CALIFORNIA vs BYU
When: 10:15 PM ET, Saturday, September 8, 2018
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

TV: 10:15 PM
LINE:
PREDICTION: BYU , CALIFORNIA

Oddsmakers currently have the BYU listed as point favorites versus the CALIFORNIA, while the game’s total is sitting at .

California’s starting quarterback remains a mystery heading into Saturday’s matchup at BYU, which finished 4-9 last season but recorded an impressive 28-23 win at Arizona last week. Cal coach Justin Wilcox rotated three players at quarterback in the Bears’ season-opening 24-17 victory over North Carolina and said all three could see time again Saturday.

Junior Ross Bowers started against the Tar Heels and was 8-for-17 for 56 yards but didn’t play in the second half as Wilcox went with redshirt freshman Chase Garbers and transfer Brandon McIlwain. While the Bears were limited to 119 passing yards, senior running back Patrick Laird picked up where he left off last season and scored both a rushing and receiving touchdown for the first time in his career, finishing with 95 yards rushing on 29 carries. Laird figures to be tested by BYU, which controlled the line of scrimmage against Arizona and held dual-threat quarterback Khalil Tate to 14 yards rushing on eight carries. Squally Canada scored on three short runs while quarterback Tanner Mangum threw for 209 yards and a TD on 18-of-28 passing.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: BYU -3

ABOUT CAL (1-0): The Bears’ defense was much improved last season and took another step forward last Saturday with four interceptions – including two by safety Jaylinn Hawkins. Outside linebacker Cameron Goode, who started nine games last season before suffering a season-ending injury, returned an interception for a TD against the Tar Heels but left the contest in the fourth quarter with a leg injury and is expected to miss at least one game. Goode is part of a stellar group of linebackers that includes Alex Funches and Evan Weaver, who had 13 solo tackles in the opener.

ABOUT BYU (1-0): Canada finished with 98 yards on 24 carries for the Cougars, whose defense held Arizona to 129 yards on the ground after the Wildcats were No. 3 nationally last season with more than 300 per game. The explosive Arizona offense was held to just two plays of 20 yards or more thanks to a BYU defense led by seniors Butch Pau’u and Corbin Kaufusi, who both recorded seven solo tackles. The Cougars did not allow a sack in the victory and allowed Mangum to connect with 10 different receivers, including tight end Matt Bushman, who had a 24-yard touchdown reception.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The teams are meeting for the first time since Nov. 29, 2014, when BYU won 42-35 in Berkeley.

2. BYU is 7-3 in home openers over the past 10 seasons – including wins over Texas, Washington State and Washington.

3. Cal is 6-0 against non-conference Power Five opponents since 2014.

PREDICTION: BYU 24, Cal 17

The post CALIFORNIA vs. BYU 9/8/2018 Free Pick & CFB Betting Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.

N CAROLINA vs CALIFORNIA
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 1, 2018
Where: California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, California

TV: 4:00 PM
LINE: -7.5
PREDICTION: CALIFORNIA , N CAROLINA

Oddsmakers currently have the CALIFORNIA listed as -7.5 point favorites versus the N CAROLINA, while the game’s total is sitting at 61.

California opened the Justin Wilcox era last year on a high note by going to North Carolina and recording a surprising come-from-behind 35-30 victory. Cal’s second-year coach looks for a similar result Saturday when the Bears host the depleted Tar Heels, who will be without 13 suspended players and standout defensive lineman Aaron Crawford (knee injury) in the season opener for both teams.

North Carolina is taking the longest trip in school history to face an improving Cal team that has made just one bowl game in the past six seasons and was picked to finish fourth in the Pac-12 North Division. The Bears are hoping to build on the promising signs from last season, when former walk-on Patrick Laird rushed for 1,127 yards – including an average of 145.4 yards over the final five games. Laird returns for his senior season and figures to receive a heavy workload against North Carolina, which finished 88th in the nation in points allowed in last year’s injury-plagued season but hopes to bounce back behind a veteran defensive line. The Tar Heels will look to pressure Cal quarterback Ross Bowers, who completed 59 percent of his passes for 3,039 yards and 18 touchdowns against 12 interceptions last season.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: California -7

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (3-9 in 2017): Dual-threat quarterback Nathan Elliott started the final three games last season and will get the nod Saturday over Chazz Surratt, who is suspended for the first four contests. Coach Larry Fedora plans to rotate Jordon Brown, Antonio Williams and true freshman Javonte Williams at running back, while wide receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams looks to build on a strong sophomore campaign. The Tar Heels boast a formidable defensive line and two impressive linebackers in Cole Holcomb and Jonathan Smith, but the secondary could be vulnerable against Cal’s aerial attack.

ABOUT CAL (5-7 in 2017): In search of their first bowl appearance since 2015, the Bears need continued growth from a defensive unit led by linebackers Cameron Goode and Jordan Kunaszyk, who had a team-high 74 tackles last season. Cal fell from third to 10th in the conference in scoring offense last year and needs a quick start from Bowers, who will be operating behind a veteran offensive line. There are question marks at the wide receiver position after three key wideouts left the program, but Kanawai Noa and Vic Wharton III return after combining for 123 catches last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cal has won its last four consecutive season openers and is 12-4 in its first game since 2002.

2. Saturday’s contest marks North Carolina’s first trip to the West Coast since a 37-34 loss at Stanford in 1998.

3. Cal was 4-2 at home last season with its two losses coming by a combined 11 points to USC and Arizona.

PREDICTION: Cal 27, North Carolina 17

The post N CAROLINA vs. CALIFORNIA 9/1/2018 Free Pick & CFB Betting Prediction appeared first on IdealCapper.