Week 5: Buffaloes vs Bears
College football Week 5 betting action sees the Colorado Buffaloes taking on the Cal Bears on Saturday September 27th at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. Cappers Picks provides free NCAA football handicapping tips all season long.
Coming into this game, both Colorado and Cal are looking to improve on last week’s performances. For Colorado, they beat Hawaii quite unconvincingly. For Cal, they were done in by a late come from behind victory by Arizona.
College Football Lines
Colorado (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) @ California (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12)
Saturday, September 27th 4:00 PM ET @ Memorial Stadium – Berkeley
NCAA Football Spread: California -14
NCAA Football O/U: 67
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Dwelling on last week some more, Cal went into the 4th quarter of the game against Arizona up 31-13. Over the course of the 4th, Arizona scored 36 points and capped it all off with a hail mary to win it as regulation expired.
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Colorado is hoping to see that same defense as they were held scoreless in the second half of their game against Hawaii last week. While the team held on to win against a bruised up Rainbow Warriors squad, it left a lot of people scratching their head.
Colorado
The combination of Sefo Liufau to Nelson Spruce has been lethal against opponents this season. In fact, 7 of Liufau’s 10 touchdown passes have been to Spruce so far in 2014. The sophomore quarterback has been already lived up to expectations numbers-wise, but now must make a name within the Pac-12 gauntlet.
So far this season, Liufau has completed 110 of 172 passes for 1,124 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Spruce’s numbers are already impressive; 37 catches, 518 yards, 7 touchdowns. Behind Spruce is Shay Fields, who has 27 catches of his own for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On the ground, the team has three rushers over 100 yards and not including Liufau, four rushers with over 20 carries. Leading the way is Christian Powell who has 249 yards and a touchdown on 49 carries. Tony Jones has 20 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown while Phillip Lindsay has 26 grabs on the year for 104 yards.
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The defense could be without star linebacker Addison Gillam, who is going to be a game-time decision depending on concussion protocols. That’s bad news for Colorado, who have allowed an average of 36 points per game thus far.
WR Nelson Spruce has a touchdown in 6 straight games now and is leading the nation with his 7 so far this season.
California
The Cal Bears are looking to put last week behind them and try to get Sonny Dykes his first conference win (0-10) as head coach of the Golden Bears. With the Buffaloes coming to town, Cal could finally get that first win this week.
The offense has been potent and hasn’t scored less than 31 points in a game yet this season. Quarterback Jared Goff has been instrumental, going 56 of 86 for 890 yards, 10 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. So far this season, Goff has spread the ball to 11 different receivers, 5 of them already eclipsing the century mark.
Darius Powe has 9 grabs for 188 yards and a touchdown so far this season while right behind him is Trevor Davis, who has 8 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown of his own. Leading the team in receiving touchdowns is Kenny Lawler, who has 10 catches for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns.
While Daniel Lasco has been the leader in the rushing game, they have heavily used Khalfani Muhammad, who had a big game last week, and using quarterback Luke Rubenzer when needed. Lasco has 239 yards and 2 touchdowns on 37 attempts this season while Muhammad has 138 yards and 3 touchdowns on 28 carries.
The Bears defense could be in trouble if they don’t step up their pass defense. With Liufau and the Buffs coming to town, the Bears have to find a way to avoid reaching their average of allowing just over 316 pass yards per game.
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Otherwise, more late game heroics could be in the cards.
NCAA football handicapping trends
- Over is 5-1 in Buffaloes last 6 vs. a team with a winning record
- Over is 7-2 in Buffaloes last 9 road games
- Over is 7-1 in Buffaloes last 8 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game
- Over is 4-1 in Golden Bears last 5 games in September
- Over is 6-2-1 in Golden Bears last 9 home games
Week 5 NCAA Football Prediction
Both offenses are going to put up points against the weak defensive counterpoints. It may come down to who can make the biggest, or only, stop in this game.
Cal should win this one, but honestly, I ‘m going with the All-American pick in this one.
4* Free NCAA Betting Pick: Take the OVER (67)
Final Week 5 Score: Colorado 31 – California 52
Check out our Updated College Football Week 5 Odds.
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