Road game at night with a two-hour, unfavorable time zone change for the Gophers. Cal looks to have a very good FR QB--who beat out a tOSU upperclassman transfer. And has some star power elsewhere ... but supposedly has some exploitable holes on defense. I assume part not the Gophers' defense in this game will be the TOP strategy, keeping the ball away from the Golden Bears offense and beating down the Bears defense with bruising offensive play (ideally with a few explosive pass plays mixed in).
As PJ has shown in previous hears, the TOP strategy--which limits the number of offensive drives (i.e., opportunities) in the game--is successful against a worthy adversary only if you come away with seven points on the majority of your infrequent trips to the red zone. Against Buffalo, the Gophers looked good tee to green, but failed to sink the makable puts. If they suffer the same red zone yips against Cal, the Gophers probably lose--even if the win the TOP game. This is shaping up to be a very revealing game for the Gophers. It will be great to see RS FR Drake L matched up against Cal's true FR star QB. Hopefully, Anthony Smith & Co. will live in the Cal backfield, making life miserable for the Cal QB.
I'll be in the stands pulling for the goods guys! Can't wait. Go Gophers.