Autzen Zoo Pac-12 Preview: Could California Golden Bears Be The Dark Horse?
The California Golden Bears look to continue with their strength from a season ago, their defense.
When Justin Wilcox came onboard last season, we all knew the Golden Bears Defense would improve and it did. Cal finished the season with the 15th best defensive unit in the nation, however, their offense seriously lacked finishing toward the bottom of the NCAA at 151st. The goal this season is to turn things around.
California may have among the best secondary in the country this season. Yes, you read that correctly. In fact, they are my dark horse pick for 2019 on being the most improved team. The Golden Bears have one 4-Star Cornerback on the team in Elijah Hicks. Others in the secondary are all three-star recruits, but they all have one thing that could take them far this season, a chip on their shoulder. Cal quietly picked off the most passes in Pac-12 play last season with 12.
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The Golden Bears open the season with UC Davis, before an early Pac-12 matchup with the Washington Huskies, who with a week one win could be close to the top ten. From there, it gets easier to close out September with games against North Texas, Mississippi and Pac-12 play begins in force with a visit to Arizona State on ESPN Primetime. If the team can get to 3-1 or 4-0 to open the season they will have a win over a Top 25 opponent and likely find themselves in the rankings.
On offense, Quarterback Chase Garbers took the Golden Bears to a bowl game last year. Garbers and Makai Polk have made some connections recently in practice that will be dangerous in the regular season.
Cal topped Stanford last year and a nice encore would be to beat Washington in the second week of the season. If they do, the rest of the Pac-12 North should be on notice for the Golden Bears.