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AT&T Park, San Francisco, 3:30 PM / Comcast Sports California and ROOT Sports Northwest / KEJO 1240 / KPAM 860 (Streamed)
Oregon St. (2-7, 2-4) takes on California (5-4, 2-4) at the Golden Bears' home away from home, AT&T Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants, and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, which Beaver fans knew as the Emerald Bowl when they were last there, in the 2007 edition, a 21-14 Oregon St. win over Maryland.
When the schedule came out, many thought this would be a bowl qualification/elimination bowl for both teams, and it still is for California. With subsequent trips to Stanford and Arizona St. on their schedule, the Golden Bears might not make it to a bowl if they don't win today. Ironically, a win, which would make them bowl eligible, could earn them another game at AT&T Park, in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl!
Oregon St.'s last hope for any postseason activity ended when Stanford defeated the Beavers 38-13. As a result, the Beavers are playing a game with no chance of avoiding a losing season, or reaching the post season, for the first time since the 1998 Civil War, 159 games ago, and at the earliest time in the year since 1997, coach Mike Riley's first season.
California kept their hopes for a bowl game alive with a 30-7 rout of Washington St. last week at AT&T. The Golden Bears will also be looking to avenge last year's 35-7 loss to the Beavers in Reser, as Jacquizz Rodgers threw for a touchdown, and ran for 3 more. Cal only averted a shutout in the last 20 seconds of the game.
Last year's beat down of the Bears, which was Oregon St.'s 4th in a row over California, by 3, 13, 17, and finally 28 points, was the Beavers' 10th win in their last 12 games against Cal. But since that win, the Beavers have run completely off the tracks, going 3-11, with 8 of the 11 losses by double figure margins.
The loss turned out to be ruinous to the Bears's year, as quarterback Kevin Prince's career was ended in the game, and after a 7 point win over Washington St., California lost 3 more games to end the season, and leave them a win short of a bowl berth.
So both teams have ample motivation to come up with a win, but clearly the Bears have the greater share of it.
The Bears are 8.5 point favorites to break through this time, but confidence in any line involving these teams is not very high this season.
Buildingthedam.com will be at the game, and be back after wards, with complete coverage and analysis.
Go Beavs!