Oddsmakers at online sports betting leader SportsBetting.com have installed Cal a -6.0 point favorite in this revenge match with a total of 54 ½. At the time of publishing, money line prices had not been posted. Current betting trends show the early money siding with Cal at 59 percent and an overwhelming 100 percent of bettors expect the total to go OVER. The game will be televised nationally by ABC Sports with kickoff set for 8:00 pm ET.
No. 12 (AP) Cal and No. 15 Tennessee kick off the 2007 campaign just like they did the 2006 season but the Bears hope the second date will have a better result. This time the game will take place in Cal's backyard, Memorial Stadium. Last season, the Bears were victimized by big plays and a bigger crowd, falling 35-18 to Tennessee in front of 106,009 fans in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee struck first with a 12-yard passing TD, then the Volunteers converted four straight big plays – a 42-yard pass and a 80-yard pass play followed by a 50-yard strike down the middle and a tough 43-yard rush through traffic. Before the Golden Bears could settle into any offensive rhythm, the Volunteers held a 35-0 advantage and the hostile crowd was in frenzy. Cal cracked the scoring column with a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and managed a couple of touchdowns against Tennessee reserves to end the game.
The Golden Bears and Vols ended 2006 going in opposite directions. Cal won 10-of-12 games including a season ending Holiday Bowl victory over the Texas Longhorns while the Vols lost three of their last five games including a 10-20 loss to Penn State in the Outback Bowl.
Junior quarterback Nate Longshore , with a solid season under his belt should be better than ever in guiding the Cal offense, a unit that scored more than 30 points average per game last year. The Bears will be without the talents of Marshawn Lynch in the backfield but speedster tail-back Justin Forsett is expected to do well in the starting role.
For Tennessee, Eric Ainge is back under center and will have the help of a stronger backfield with tail-back LaMarcus Coker who will get most of the reps. The Tennessee receiving corps lost three key members that must be replaced. Juco transfer Brent Vinson, Slick Shelly, Quintin Hancock and Austin Rogers will rotate in the receiver slots. It has been reported that Ainge suffered an injury on a pinky finger but its not expected to be a factor.
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