COLORADO at CAL
Records: Cal 1-5 overall, 0-3 in the Pac-12; Colorado 2-4, 1-2
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Berkeley
TV: Pac-12 Network
Radio: KGO (810 AM)
Series history: Cal leads 6-4. The Bears won 33-21 in 2018 at Berkeley in the most recent matchup. Cal is 4-0 at home against Colorado and 3-2 since the Buffaloes joined the Pac-12.
Cal storylines: The Bears again seek their first Pac-12 victory and first win over an FBS opponent. Cal is 2-8 since the start of the COVID-shortened 2020 season after going 15-11 the two previous seasons . . . Cal’s defensive shortcomings include ranking 11th in the Pac-12 in third-down conversions (allowing 46.7 percent) and last in fourth-down conversions (5 for 7 or 71.4 percent) . . . Cal senior safety Elijah Hicks had his first career interception against Colorado three years ago, returning it 34 yards for a touchdown . . . The Bears will play their fifth straight game without OLB Kuony Deng, who still has not been declared out for the season.
Colorado storylines: The Buffaloes are hoping that freshman quarterback Brendon Lewis can build on his performance last week when he threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns in CU’s 34-0 win over Arizona. In five previous games, he’d averaged just 95 passing yards while completing 53 percent . . . Colorado’s win over Arizona was its first over an FBS team this season . . . CU’s top receiver is redshirt freshman Brenden Rice, the son of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. Brenden Rice caught three passes for 111 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown, last week against Arizona . . . The Buffaloes have been solid defensively this season, especially in the secondary, where they’ve surrendered just six touchdown passes, second-fewest in the Pac-12.
Stats that matter: Chase Garbers leads the Pac-12 in total offense (283.8 yards), is second in passing yards per game (248.7) but 10th in pass efficiency (130.06) . . . Cal’s defense continues to be far from what we saw in its recent peak seasons of 2018 and ’19, ranked ninth in points allowed (27.0) and 11th in yards allowed (407.7) . . . Colorado linebacker Nate Landman, a two-time All-Pac-12 linebacker from Monte Vista High in Danville, has 399 career tackles.
Source: www.mercurynews.com