New Oregon State Beavers Look to Dominate Cal in Week 1 Matchup

Week 1 of the college football season sees a matchup between former conference rivals as Cal takes on Oregon State. Cal finished the previous season with a 6-7 record while Oregon State finished with a 5-7 record as an independent team. Cal holds a 40-37 advantage in the all-time series between the teams. Stay tuned for our prediction on the outcome of the game.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Golden Bears +106 | Beavers -125
Spread: Golden Bears +1.5 (-110) | Beavers -1.5 (-110)
Total: Over/Under 49.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Oregon St. will win straight-up is 56%.

California Golden Bears

In 2024, Cal finished with a 6-7 record, falling under .500 after a defeat by UNLV in the LA Bowl. This marked their fifth consecutive losing season, with a significant number of players leaving the program including key players like quarterback Fernando Mendoza and running back Jadyn Ott. With a rebuilding project ahead, head coach Justin Wilcox faces the challenge of filling numerous holes in the roster. Devin Brown, an Ohio State transfer, will take over the starting quarterback position, while Brandon High Jr., Kendrick Raphael, and LJ Johnson Jr. are expected to step up in the running back group. Trond Grizzell leads the returning receivers, with support from Jacob De Jesus, QuaRon Adams, Mark Hamper, and Landon Morris. Kicker Chase Meyer is expected to handle the kicking duties. Cal's offense ranked 37th in passing and 103rd in rushing last season, while the defense allowed 22.3 points per game, ranking 36th in the nation. The team faces a challenge in getting the new faces up to speed for the upcoming season.

Oregon St. Beavers

In 2024, Oregon State finished with a 5-7 record in Trent Bray's first season as head coach, facing challenges with several key players leaving via the transfer portal. The team saw their top two quarterbacks depart, along with significant changes in the receiving corps. Looking ahead, Bray is focused on getting his team up to speed, particularly in improving their passing offense, which ranked 95th nationally, and scoring defense, which ranked 100th. Maalik Murphy, with experience from Duke, steps in as the new quarterback, while Anthony Hankerson leads the ground game. Returning receiver Trent Walker looks to build on his production from last season. Additionally, Caleb Ojeda and Logan McCreery are competing for the kicking job. Oregon State has work to do to address their roster changes and improve their performance in the upcoming season.

Oregon State Holds Advantage Over Cal in Upcoming Game With New Quarterback and Key Returning Players

The upcoming game features two teams in the midst of retooling efforts as they aim to regain respectability. Both teams have introduced a new quarterback for this season, with Oregon State potentially holding an advantage due to Murphy's proven experience at this level compared to Brown. Furthermore, the Beavers are in a favorable position with the return of their top rusher and receiver from the previous season, while Cal faces the challenge of rebuilding at those positions. Given the significant gaps that Cal is working to address, it may be a tough season for the Golden Bears, as discussed by GM Ron Rivera earlier in the offseason. Considering these factors, it is recommended to support Oregon State at home in this upcoming game, rather than backing the visitors from Cal.

Sources: [ 4 ] [ 5 ]

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