WHERE TO WATCH
Kickoff – 2:30 PM, September 7, 2024
Watch – ESPN2
Listen – Auburn Website
Gamecast – ESPN
TEAM HISTORY
The California Golden Bears (Cal) represent the University of California, Berkley, in NCAA football. Berkley is located in the Bay Area, near San Fransisco WHICH FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY IS ABOUT 2,800 MILES FROM THE ATLANTIC COAST.
Cal recognizes 5 NCAA national titles all won before the Second World War. Cal has produced notable NFL products like Marshawn Lynch and Aaron Rodgers.
The Golden Bears are also known for beating Stanford in a game that involved multiple laterals on a kickoff return that resulted in a TD as time expired that not only won the game for Cal but also resulted in Kevin Moen running over a trombone player from Stanford band who thought the game had already ended.
It’s bizarre, sure, but not nearly as enduring or relevant as the Kick-Six.
SERIES HISTORY
Auburn traveled to Berkley last season. The game was late, and it was ugly. Auburn won a sloppy mistake-filled game 14-10. I blame the harsh LED light displays that seemed to be at field level making our clean white away uniforms look almost blue.
Rivaldo Fairweather made several crucial catches including the game-winning TD. We saw glimpses of what we hoped he would become for the rest of the season. A hope that we’re continuing to chase even today.
The game was so ugly that Cal’s dynamic athletic QB Sam Jackson V transferred to Auburn this season to play WR.
WHAT TO WATCH
This game is being played in Auburn in our stadium with our humidity and our LED video boards. I don’t expect harsh lighting to be a concern for either team, but I always hold out hope that the dew point at 2:30 pm on a September afternoon in Alabama will prove to be a challenge for those unacclimated.
Hey, another thing to look out for is an offense that looks like a competent offense! Last Saturday was fun. Receivers making catches gave me the warm and fuzzies. Think about last year’s contest against Cal and how different it would’ve looked had average wide receiver play been achieved.
PREDICTION
Cal will never be on the Atlantic Coast and they won’t beat us in our house.
Auburn 28, Cal 10
