Sonny Dykes came to Berkeley a couple years ago with the hope that he was going to be able to make the California Golden Bears exciting once again. Though he has increased scoring a ton, he still hasn't gotten this team to a bowl game in his two years on the job.
This probably isn't quite a make-or-break season, but Dykes really needs to show improvement and get this team in a bowl game sooner rather than later to keep his job.
2015 SCHEDULE
9/5: vs. Grambling
9/12: vs. San Diego State
9/19: at Texas
9/26: at Washington
10/3: vs. Washington State
10/10: at Utah
10/22: at UCLA
10/31: vs. USC
11/7: at Oregon
11/14: vs. Oregon State
11/21: at Stanford
11/28: vs. Arizona State
Take out that November 14 game against Oregon State, and it's tough to find a game on the docket for Cal in which it will be favored from the middle of October on. Sure, there is a chance to start off the season at 3-2, but from there, wins will almost certainly be very hard to come by. Playing six legit road games this year is going to be a killer.
SEASON WIN TOTAL
Cal won five games last year, and that's what they’re pinned at this season as well. Though it should be noted that the Golden Bears were really close to being a bowl team last year and no one would be surprised if they got to the postseason this year, it's understandable why the books have locked them in at just five wins.
This schedule isn't easy for sure outside of that first cupcake game against Grambling.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
It's all about Jared Goff on this offense. Goff threw for 3,973 yards and 35 TDs last season, and he is a superstar in the making. The argument could be made that he will end up being Cal's best quarterback in its history when it's all said and done with, and that's saying something considering some of the names who have come through this program, including Aaron Rodgers.
The best part about Goff and this offense which Dykes put together is the fact that this unit has grown together. Kenny Lawler is probably the team's best receiver, but he was one of the four receivers in this up-tempo offense last year who had at least 583 yards and 46 receptions.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
For as great as this offense was last year, the defense was anything but. The unit gave up 61 touchdowns in 2015, and there isn't a lot of improvement that is obvious coming on this side of the ball.
There is a lot of experience though with nine returning starters, but the men who have the most starts under their belts are the ones who have been so guilty for giving up almost 400 passing yards per game and around 40 points per game each of the last two seasons.
SEASON PREDICTION
We like the Bears this season. We're not totally sure where they’re getting those fourth, fifth and sixth wins from, but this is a team which should have beaten Arizona last year, could have beaten USC and had a shot against BYU.
Goff could be the best quarterback in the Pac-12, and that's really saying something!
Of course, this isn't a team which is winning the National Championship, so 500 to 1 is a pipe dream and a waste of your time and money. But the Bears should take some more steps forward and could stay alive in the Pac-12 North deep into the season.
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