In the Pac-12, conference play is hot and heavy with multiple squads battling it out for early season supremacy. In SBS’ first highlighted game of the week, the 2-1 Cal Golden Bears are set to do battle with 2-1 Arizona in Berkeley. Elsewhere in the conference, undefeated UCLA travels to Boulder where they are slated for a matchup with the winless Colorado Buffaloes. For each contest, this will be the first conference matchup for each school this season.
In this report, SBS will go over what to look for from each team, who will win in both games, and also some other thoughts about NCAA football wagering.
Team Spotlight: Cal
The Golden Bears are coming off a disappointing loss to Notre Dame on the road, but have looked fairly sharp to start 2022. In wins over UNLV and UC Davis, the Bears were able to cruise to victory at home by a combined margin of 27 points. Though this will be a step up in competition for Cal, the Bears have already had solid performances this year from quarterback Jack Plummer (730 yards and five touchdowns) and wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter (223 yards and one score). Also, when the two squads squared off last season, the Bears were able to keep it close on the road, but ultimately fell to Arizona, 10-3.
Team Spotlight: Arizona
Heading on the road for the second time this season, Arizona is coming off a solid 31-28 win over FCS power, North Dakota State. After starting the season by demolishing SDSU, 38-20, the Wildcats fell back to earth a bit with a 22-point loss to Mississippi State in Tucson. Though they have had some hiccups to start the year, Arizona has been able to step up in some early season moments especially following the car wreck performances of the last two seasons. Following their win over the Bison, the Wildcats have already exceeded their combined win total from 2020 (zero) and 2021 (one). Leading the charge for the Arizona offense has been quarterback Jayden de Laura who has accounted for 748 passing yards and six scores in the young season.
Prediction: While the Wildcats do seem to be showing some signs of clear improvement, they will not be able to keep up with the vengeful Bears on the road. Take Cal to win here.
Team Spotlight: Colorado
The beginning of the 2022 college football season has been a tough one for the Buffaloes. Colorado has started 0-3 with a combined margin of defeat at 97 total points. Colorado is coming off a 42-point shellacking on the road at Minnesota and is looking to get their offense going. The Buffs have been especially problematic on defense, surrendering an eye-popping 348 yards per contest. Though that number is most likely bolstered by playing against the triple-option of Air Force, the point still stands that Colorado needs some help. Buffaloes running back Deion Smith has impressed so far this season though with 159 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Team Spotlight: UCLA
On the opposite side of the coin are the undefeated 3-0 Bruins. Though UCLA has an unblemished mark on paper, they are coming off a nail-biting 32-31 victory over South Alabama at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins have been guided by strong quarterback play from Dorian Thompson-Robinson (662 yards and six scores to one pick) and stifling rush defense (95 rushing yards allowed per game). While the performance against the Jaguars of South Alabama left some things to be desired, UCLA certainly has momentum on its side as the Bruins hit the road for the first time this season.
Prediction: This should be another lopsided affair with the Bruins cruising to an easy victory in Boulder.
Once you are done making your final preparations for this week’s slate of college football action, make sure to check out all the other fantastic gambling resources available to you from SBS. The next place you should check out is our NCAAF betting sites rundown which goes over all the latest college football betting lines and news. In addition to that fantastic resource, SBS has your back with our best bonus betting sites guide which serves as a detailed catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers. Here you can find all the latest and greatest ways to bolster your wagers. On a final note, if you are maybe uncertain about which payment options you can use, the SBS payment methods overview is a great guide for anything related to withdrawals and deposits.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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