CAL scouting report

Offensive MVP

Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett. A true 1-2 punch on the ground worth 2,000 yards of Bear offense in rushing. Lynch has 1,082 yards on 172 carries for seven TDs while Forsett has 989 yards on 124 carries for six touchdowns.

Defensive MVP

Daymeion Hughes and Tim Mixon. These DBs have helped the Bears establish the top pass efficiency defense in the Pac-10 (No. 21 nationally), allowing opponents 54 percent completions and only an average of 6.3 yards per catch.

Team weakness

Injuries to two starting quarterbacks have left the Bears thin at that position, where a former fullback, Steve Levy, will start. Levy has thrown 29 passes and is unproven as a passer, leaving Cal with a one-dimensional look on offense.

Team strength

The tandem run threat of Forsett and Lynch stands out, but so does the consistency of Cal's defense, although it's faced some weak opponents in New Mexico State, Sacramento State and Arizona. The Bears are solid against the run, allowing 121 yards rushing for only 3.3 yards per carry. The Cal pass defense is equally consistent, utilizing a blend of pass rush and tight coverage to hold down opponents.

How they got here

The Bears made the most of the easy part of their schedule with a 5-0 start and a national ranking. They then crashed, beating only Washington State and Stanford in the final six weeks. The Washington State victory elevated the Bears to a six-win team and fifth-place spot in the Pac-10. When the BCS refused to take Oregon, that opened the door for Cal in Las Vegas.

High point

The Bears opened the season well. Victories over Sacramento State, Washington, Illinois, New Mexico State and Arizona vaulted Cal into a tie with USC and Oregon atop the Pac-10. The Bears' offense lit it up for 41 points against Sacramento State, 56 against Washington, 35 against Illinois and 41 against New Mexico State.

Low point

After the 5-0 start, Cal got into close games that turned sour, most notably a 27-20 overtime loss to Oregon. The Bears lost 47-40 to UCLA and 23-20 to Oregon State.

CAL DEPTH CHART

    
            

        	
		
        
                
OFFENSE