Chris Jordan

Saturday night sweep ...

200♦ CALIFORNIA - This is a true revenge game for the Bears, and with Maryland having to travel to the West Coast time zone and play at what will be 10 p.m. to them, I don’t give the Terrapins any shot today.

This is a talented team that returns 15 starters on offense and defense to a team that won nine games last year. And as far as I can tell, the Bears have every intention of winning the Pac 10 that USC has. The Bears are stacked at the skill positions, there is experience in the trenches and there’s an overall sense this team by this team that is can finish September 4-0 and head into its home clash with Southern Cal on Oct. 3 with virtually everything on the line.

Meanwhile, the Terps might be in the top 60 in the nation, they’re one of the youngest and inexperienced teams in the nation, there is uncertainty in the trenches and though the talent that was recruited and brought in is highly regarded, I think this team has its hands full far from home.

This is a helluva road trip for the Terps, who play their next four games at home. My guess is coach Ralph Friedgen just wants to get out of this one unscathed on the injury front. That’ll be tough, cause Cal has had this date circled for months!

Legit revenge situation here, as Cal rolls large!!!

100♦ TEXAS AM - This is another mismatch, and it’s mainly because of the Lobos, who are under a new regime and will feel the growing pains with a new coaching staff in place. Former coach Rocky Long – a defensive genius – is now the D-Coordinator at San Diego State, and now the entire stop unit faces a new system to learn. This isn’t the best way to start the season, against a Big 12 team that has nine starters back on offense, including talented junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson.

The Aggies are looking to improve on last year’s 4-8 season, and a favorable schedule in September could have them 3-0 heading into a clash with Arkansas on Oct. 3. On deck are home clashes with Utah State and Alabama-Birmingham, so there’s not to squirm about. Big 12 mid-range versus Mountain West mediocre … I’ll lay the chalk.