GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: With Cal’s confidence skyrocketing, and its defense proving its might every week, a different opponent than Stanford may be quaking in its name-brand cleats. But the Cardinal has made a perennial winner out of running the ball, protecting the ball, and decimating the opposition with its defense. Basically, this game is a battle of wills and increasingly like-minded teams.
Who will protect the ball best? Who will win the turnover battle? Who will be able to sustain drives and strike in the red zone when need be?
The key matchup isn’t just one matchup this week, it’s just the matchup of two archrivals who look more similar than they have in a long time.
DRAFT SLANT
–LB Evan Weaver has shot up draft charts for his dominant play on the Cal defense. Weaver’s father, Todd Weaver, recently spoke to the CBS station in Spokane, Wash., where Weaver played high school ball, about his son’s ascension. “I don’t expect anything less. That’s what he’s told us since the first grade. I don’t doubt that child,” Todd Weaver said of Evan’s NFL aspirations. “I remember watching the first game when he was (on varsity). … He didn’t start. He played the second series and never sat out again. So to think about the NFL is pretty crazy.” Weaver had a game-high 13 tackles with two sacks against USC.
ROSTER REPORT
–WR Brandon Singleton is questionable for the Stanford game with an undisclosed injury.
–RB Derrick Clark is questionable for the Stanford game with a lower-body injury.
–LB Derron Brown is questionable for the Stanford game for personal reasons.
–OL Henry Bazakas is questionable for the Stanford game with a lower-body injury.
–QB Ross Bowers is questionable for the Stanford game with a thumb injury.
–DE Rusty Becker is questionable for the Stanford game with a lower-body injury.
–LB Cameron Goode is out for the season with a leg injury.
–RB Johnny Adams Jr. is out for the season with a lower-body injury.
–LB Gerran Brown is out for the season with a lower-body injury.
–WR Jordan Duncan is out indefinitely with a hand injury.
–OL Michael Saffell is out for the season with a leg injury.
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