Last Updated on September 1, 2009 2:59 pm by drew
Maryland-Cal Odds
Pasadena,
Led by Heisman Trophy hopeful Jahvid Best, No. 12 California opens its season Saturday night at Memorial Stadium looking to avenge last year’s loss to Maryland.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made
Led by Heisman Trophy hopeful Jahvid Best, No. 12 California opens its season Saturday night at Memorial Stadium looking to avenge last year’s loss to
With 17 returning starters and their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 9 in 2006, the Golden Bears are looking to overtake
Best ran for 1,580 yards last season – second-best in school history – and averaged a program-record 8.1 per carry, but the junior has more than personal goals in mind for 2009.
"He realizes that the team’s success is first and foremost," said eighth-year Bears coach Jeff Tedford. "If there’s any personal accolades that come along with that then so be it, but he is so well-respected by his teammates, and he respects his teammates and knows that the team is No. 1. He is so sincere about it that I don’t have any problems with trying to keep it hush-hush with the Heisman or anything like that."
Tedford, who has led
Riley, 7-2 as a starter in 2008, won a three-way competition for the job with sophomore
In last season’s 35-27 loss at
The Bears are hoping to benefit from first-year offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, who served in that capacity for
"I know there’s going to be high expectations on this team, and it’s something we welcome," Tedford said.
Defensive back Syd’Quan Thompson returns for his senior season after earning all-conference honors in 2008, finishing with a team-best four interceptions and 70 tackles. He ranked 21st nationally in punt-return average (12.3 ypg).
As
"Every year, I think we get ranked fifth (in the ACC’s Atlantic Division)," coach Ralph Friedgen said. "This year, some people ranked us even lower. I always kind of tell everybody it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. It’s been that way my whole life, so it’s nothing new to me. I just keep working and hopefully everything will fall into place."
The Terrapins don’t have to look much further than their coach to see the value of hard work. Friedgen lost more than 100 pounds from his 300-plus-pound frame over the offseason.
"A lot of times coaches expect a lot out of their players, but he’s really practicing what he preaches as far as dedication, hard work and doing things right," senior quarterback Chris Turner said.
Turner, a native of
"I feel 100 times better (this season). I’m confident, I’m excited, I’m eager to get out to
Turner was 15 of 19 for 156 yards and two touchdowns in last season’s meeting with the Bears.
Da’Rel Scott ran for 87 yards and two scores in that win and finished 2008 with 1,133 rushing yards en route to being named a first-team All-ACC selection.
He’ll be joined in the backfield by Davin Meggett, son of former NFL player Dave Meggett, following a freshman season in which he was second on the team with 457 rushing yards.
With Darrius Heyward-Bey drafted No. 7 overall by the Oakland Raiders, the Terrapins and second-year offensive coordinator James Franklin will look to junior Adrian Cannon and sophomore Torrey Smith to fill the void at wide receiver.
Smith had an ACC-record 1,089 kickoff return yards in 2008.
Betting Trends:
All games in this series since 1992
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL since 1992
Games over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
Key Player Injuries
No significant injuries.
No significant injuries.
Posted: 9/1/09 2:59PM ET