2008 California Golden Bears Football Preview

2008 California Golden Bears season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official California Golden Bears football preview as well as the 2008 California Golden Bears Football Schedule. Haven't had much luck beating your bookie? This season up your chances and order Maddux's winning college football picks.

Coach: Jeff Tedford (7th year at California)
Team Name: Golden Bears
2007 Overall Record: 7-6
Returning Starters: 12

In 2006, the California Golden Bears (7-6 overall, 3-6 overall) finished first in the Pac-10 with 10 victories. Their five-year record includes five straight bowl appearances. Last season, they tied for seventh in the league. They were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl, winning 42-36.

Senior QB Nate Longshore (384 ATT, 230 COMP, 2,580 YDS, 16 TDs, 13 INT) has been a starter for two years but was extremely unpredictable last season. Sophomore Kevin Riley will compete with him for the position. The offensive line is anchored by senior All-American center Alex Mack. This is a talented group. The running backs are young and inexperienced. Sophomore Jahvid Best, who will most likely start at tail back, will be one of the best in another season but at this point is developing. The receiving corps is being rebuilt.

On defense, the Golden Bears are deep at the linebacker spots and for that reason they may switch to a three-four set. Senior LB Worrell Williams (105 tackles, 57 solo) is back as the clubs’ leading tackler. All-Pac-10 senior LB Zack Follett (5.5 sacks) is the anchor of the group and returns as the leader in sacks. If the defensive linemen can gel, the front will be sound. In the secondary, junior QB Syd’Quan Thompson is skilled and experienced and senior safety Bernard Hicks is a topnotch player.

The Bears look to play three swing games. If they can win them all, the team could finish with nine wins. But that will be tough to do. California travels to Maryland on September 13 to play the Terrapins. They then have two straight tossups, with one on October 18 at Arizona and another at home versus UCLA.

This team will have difficulty recreating recent past successes. Head coach Jeff Tedford (50-26 in six years) knows how to build winning teams. He’s spent his entire head coaching career guiding the Golden Bears and has never posted a losing season. There is a danger of that happening this year or of going 6-6.

California Golden Bears Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Home/Away
Aug 30	Michigan State	Home
Sep 6	Washington State	Away
Sep 13	Maryland	Away
Sep 27	Colorado State	Home
Oct 4	Arizona State	Home
Oct 18	Arizona	Away
Oct 25	UCLA	Home
Nov 1	Oregon	Home
Nov 8	USC	Away
Nov 15	Oregon State	Away
Nov 22	Stanford	Home
Dec 6	Washington	Home

 

For more info on the 2008 California Golden Bears football program, view the Golden Bears football site or you can read about other Pac-10 teams below.