SportSpyder - The Latest California Golden Bears Football Podcasts

DBD 2026-11-12: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 11:48:31 GMT

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Cal Men’s Basketball Live Chat: Bears host former Pac-12 opponent in #21 USC

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 02:30:42 GMT

How to watch Cal v. USC men’s college basketball

When: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
Tip-Off Time: 8 p.m. Pacific
Where: Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Cal Bears Sports Network on KSFO 810 AM; Channel 266 on SiriusXM Radio, the SiriusXM app and website; or The Varsity Network app

The Rodcast: Cal-Houston Reaction

Bear Insider — Thu, 12 Nov 2026 00:04:14 GMT

Wurster Hall: University of Virginia Homeward Dogs

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 20:01:26 GMT

Hello and welcome back to Wurster Hall, where we examine all the off-field factors that could factor into the on-field performance through storytelling, statistics, and chortles. This week, we’re here to learn about the University of (Western) Virginia in Charlottesville, VA.

Review

We start this week learning about where the game will be played at Scott Stadium, named for Frederic William Scott, a university donor and rector, which is a word I just had to look up. Scott Stadium is well-reviewed on Google at an average of 4.5 stars across 1,113 reviews. Let’s take a look at some of those reviews!

Interestingly, concerts are one of the highest appearing words throughout all reviews. Many in particular focus on one Lucas Combs.

Oh boy! That bodes well for this football game! But enough about moderate music, lets look into the concessions scene at Scott Field.

Noted! Avoid the hot dogs! If you’re going to this game, I hope you have a good time and a good game!

Citation Needed

Now to the usual stuff! Let’s take a look at how these Universities compare where it counts, Wikipedia citations!

UC Berkeley made up some ground, increasing the number of Wikipedia Citations by two to a nice 309! Thanks new citations! Meanwhile, University of Virginia sits at a tight 217. You know what they say, Wikipedia is the source of all knowledge and more citations is better!

Homeward Bound

Next, let’s learn more about the University of Virginia Cavaliers Wahoos Hoos! One particular incident is worth exploring just a bit more!

In the 1920s, the student Greek life somewhat adopted a stray dog aptly named Beta, named after the Beta Theta Pi members that adopted him. The dog roamed campus, appearing at parties and tailgates where he was lovingly fed hamburgers and beer. What a life!

Beta (left) courtesy of cvillepedia.org.

One particular weekend, the student body felt that Beta’s presence was required in Athens, as the Cavaliers were set to square off against Uga and the Georgia Bulldogs. We don’t know which game it was, but in the 1920s UVA went 1-3 against Georgia. Personally I think it was the 1925 game where Virginia barely squeaked by Georgia winning 7-6. I’d like to think they got so drunk that that it what caused this next part.

After what I assume was an incredible party, the students left the next day and WHOOPS WE FORGOT BETA. Somehow, someway, these students cross THREE SETS OF STATE LINES AND FORGET THEIR DOG. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN.

BUT THEN IT GETS CRAZIER. SOME WEEKS LATER, BETA JUST SHOWS UP BACK IN CHARLOTTESVILLE! A little thinner, a little tired, but just shows up again at the Beta House back door! AND THEN HE GOES ON TO LIVE FOR ANOTHER LIKE 10 OR 12 YEARS! HOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Thankfully, we here at Write For California, using the latest in imagery software have compiled this 27 minute video so that you can pretend to be Beta and fly from the University of Georgia Sanford Field to the Beta House in Charlottesville, Virginia. Put on the headphones, put it on full screen, and pretend to be a little dog with a jetpack flying across the American South. Like a Snoopy-esque chasing the Red Baron.

Nothing but the best for our readers!

Bear Power

Let’s take a look at another interesting statistic, distance to nearest bear!

UC Berkeley and the Oakland Zoo haven’t moved yet (we’re watching you Hayward Fault!) so the distance remains fixed at 11 miles. Meanwhile, the closest bear to the University of Virginia is the Asiatic Black Bear at the Norfolk Zoo, a staggering 164 miles away. I’d hate to be a parent driving from Charlottesville to the Zoo. Just two more hours child of mine! This one could very well tip the scales as we know our Golden Bears draw power from the proximity to the closest bear. Here’s hoping we can find a way to win.

And with that, we’ve learned everything we need to learn about the University of the Virginias. Hope this made you a smile or laugh. Here’s hoping for a Cal Bears victory this weekend. Thanks for reading, and Go Bears!

Cal v. USC College Basketball 2026 Betting Odds and Lines

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 19:01:14 GMT

Courtesy: Cal Athletics

The California Golden Bears are underdogs in their matchup against the USC Trojans, according to the latest men’s college basketball lines and odds offered by sportsbooks.

Cal v. USC men’s college basketball betting pick, odds and lines: Who is favored to win?

According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest college basketball betting odds for Cal v. USC is Cal +8.5, as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Cal +8.5 line implies the California Golden Bears are about nine-point underdogs against the USC Trojans.

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According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest point total for Cal v. USC men’s college basketball “over-or-under” total score bets is 161.5 points, as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Cal +8.5 line and 161.5-point total imply the California Golden Bears will lose to the USC Trojans with a scoreline of about 85-76.

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According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest Cal v. USC men’s college basketball “moneyline” ranges between Cal +275 and Cal +335 and USC -350 and USC -410, as of Wednesday afternoon.

Moneyline bets pay out based on the Cal v. USC men’s college basketball game’s result, regardless of any point “spread” handicap or margin of victory.

A bet on Cal’s most favorable moneyline of Cal +335 pays a $335 profit on a $100 bet because Cal is the underdog, while a wager on USC’s most favorable moneyline of USC -350 pays a $100 profit on a $350 bet because USC is the favorite.

Cal v. USC men’s college basketball: What you should know

The California Golden Bears are 2-1 in the 2026-2027 men’s college basketball season, while the USC Trojans are 2-0.

The USC Trojans started the season ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press’ pre-season top-25 poll and No. 22 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll. USC is ranked the same in both polls heading into its game against Cal.

The California Golden Bears have a 138-134 record against the USC Trojans in a series dating back to 1916. Cal has won the last two meetings, including its last game, a 82-74 win in Los Angeles in 2024, when both teams were Pac-12 Conference members.

Cal lost to No. 10 Houston, 68-86, this past weekend in a neutral-site pre-season tournament. The nationally ranked Cougars sailed to a win, leading by 11 points at halftime and turning that advantage to as many as 23 points in the second half.

At the same pre-season tournament, the No. 21 USC Trojans fought for a narrow 93-86 win against Wichita State Shockers. Rodney Rice and Alijah Arenas scored career-high 32 and 30 points, respectively.

Cal is 1-0 against the spread in the 2026-2027 men’s college basketball season, and USC is currently 2-0 when a point handicap is considered.

Cal has had one “over” game, while USC has had one “over” and one “under” point-total result this season.

According to Vegas Insider, which reports sportsbooks’ offered odds and lines, the Cal v. USC men’s college basketball line opened earlier this week at about Cal +7.5. The Cal v. USC total for “over-or-under” total score bets opened at about 160.5 points. The same website reports the Cal v. USC moneyline opened at about Cal +235 and USC -290.

According to Vegas Insider, 66% of Cal v. USC men’s college basketball bets with a point spread have been on USC, 66% of Cal v. USC “over-or-under” total score bets have been on the over and 99% of Cal v. USC moneyline bets have been on the favorites, the USC Trojans.

Vegas Insider also reports 65% of the dollars wagered on Cal v. USC with a point spread have been on USC , 63% of total score bets have been on the “over” and 96% of dollars bet on the Cal v. USC moneyline have been on the favorites, the USC Trojans.

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If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.

How to Watch Cal v. USC College Basketball: Live Stream and TV Channel

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 14:31:30 GMT

The California Golden Bears (2-1) face their second nationally ranked foe of the season, as they host the No. 21 USC Trojans (2-0) this weekend.

The Bears last played back-to-back games against nationally ranked teams last season when they lost to No. 6 Duke, 56-71, on Jan. 14 and No. 14 North Carolina, 78-84, on Jan. 17.

Cal and USC’s last meeting was in 2024, when both teams were members of the Pac-12 Conference. The Golden Bears came out ahead, besting USC 71-66 in Galen Center, their first road win against the Trojans since 2017.

Here is how you can watch Cal v. USC college basketball Wednesday evening.

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How to watch Cal v. USC men’s college basketball

When: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026
Tip-Off Time: 8 p.m. Pacific
Where: Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.
TV: ESPN2
Radio: Cal Bears Sports Network on KSFO 810 AM; Channel 258 on SiriusXM Radio, the SiriusXM app and website; or The Varsity Network app

How to watch Cal v. USC men’s college basketball online

The Cal v. USC men’s college basketball game will air on ESPN2.

ESPN2 can be streamed online on the ESPN app or the ESPN website, on major paid cable or satellite TV providers’ online services, and popular online TV streaming services.

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Write for California will not have a live online video stream of the Cal v. USC men’s college basketball game.

A Write for California subscription never includes live TV streams of college basketball games, including Cal v. USC, or any other sports games or events.

DBD 2026-11-11: Armistice Day

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 11:38:29 GMT

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The Bear Market has no choice but to talk about firing Tosh Lupoi

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 11:31:14 GMT

Piotr and Nick are back for Write for California’s premium subscription podcast. Give this episode a listen and consider subscribing for the rest of the season!

After an ugly loss to NC State and a by…

Virginia College Football 2026: Offensive Preview

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 11:03:10 GMT

Last year, I wrote enviously about Virginia’s “Cardiac Cavaliers” having the kind of season I always hoped Cal would have. Virginia did indeed make it to the ACC Championship game, although their playoff hopes came to an end after falling to 7-5 Duke for the ACC title. Although Virginia had a lot of lucky breaks go their way last season, that hasn’t been the case so far this year. Last year, Virginia had a favorable schedule which missed most of the top teams in the ACC: Miami, Pitt, SMU, Georgia Tech. The only ACC contender they faced last year was Duke, who they beat during the regular season. For context, Cal was the team with the second-best conference record of teams on their schedule (behind Duke), and “when is the last time Cal had a winning conference record?” is an unfortunate trivia question (it’s 2009). Virginia survived 3 games in overtime, and won 3 games by 3 or fewer points, and 4 games by one possession.

Look at this Wahoo.

This year, Virginia has had no such luck. They have already faced a couple of the ACC contenders in SMU, Wake Forest, and Duke. They were blown out by a talented-but-underperforming team in Florida State. They won a rock fight with Syracuse, but at this point, who hasn’t. They’re currently on a 3-game losing streak, and just got blown out by Wake Forest. In other words, they sound a lot like Cal.

A closer look at the Cavalier when not atop his horse.

I mean, you can see it in their faces. Does this look like a crowd having a good time?

You can see from the fan on the left that Virginia is having a pretty similar season as Cal.

The fans have openly expressed their disapproval with the offense’s play-calling:

Virginia fan booing a cowardly play call.

And while this may be more akin to Wilcox-era Cal, the close games this season have not gone their way (2026 Cal prefers to lose in style):

“Oh boy my team is about to come up clutch in this critical moment” said no Cal fan, ever.

Appropriately, Virginia fans don’t trust leads either:

But unlike some teams that are currently 9-0 and still playing to empty stadiums, at least Virginia fans show up, rain or shine:

I was impressed at the number of fans despite the inclement weather this season at Virginia games. I hope there is no such inclement weather this Saturday.

Of course, although Virginia’s season feels similar to Cal’s in spirit, they’ve arrived there in completely different fashion. Let’s take a closer look at what’s gone wr— err, the positional breakdowns for UVA.

Quarterback

Mizzou transfer QB Beau Pribula starts for Virginia. Pribula originally transferred from Penn State to Mizzou during PSU’s 2024 CFP appearance, when then-starting PSU QB Drew Allar announced he would be returning to Penn State for another year. I mentioned this briefly in the Virginia Tech preview, but the former Penn State/Mizzou quarterback thought he was destined for Virginia Tech to rejoin his old coach at Penn State in James Franklin: he scheduled exactly one trip during the transfer portal window—to Virginia Tech—only to find out from a different school during his visit at Virginia Tech that now-VT QB Ethan Grunkemeyer (also a former PSU QB) had just committed to Virginia Tech. It then became a mad scramble for Pribula to find a landing spot. He traveled to Nebraska, only for former Virginia QB Anthony Colandrea to commit to Nebraska while Pribula was again on his official visit. Washington then flew Pribula in for a visit after QB Demond Williams announced he was entering the portal after already re-signing with Washington, before Williams reversed course again. He took trips to Georgia Tech and Tennessee, where ongoing court eligibility news further affected the transfer portal landscape. Last year’s quarterback for Virginia, Chandler Morris, had his eligibility waiver denied by the NCAA, and now Virginia was scrambling for quarterbacks. They brought in Beau Pribula and Pitt QB Eli Holstein (who had lost his starting job to freshman standout Mason Heintschel), and an exhausted Pribula finally found a landing spot right before the transfer portal deadline, while Holstein expressed he was still interested even with Pribula expected to take the starting job (Holstein will likely be the starter for next year). The fact that Pribula ended up at Virginia Tech’s rival—a happy coincidence.

At Mizzou, Pribula went 7-3 as a starter, with losses to 2 playoff teams (Alabama and Oklahoma), and to Vanderbilt who narrowly missed the CFP (finishing #14 in the final CFP rankings). At Mizzou, Pribula threw for 11 TDs and 9 INTs, but has done a much better job of keeping the ball safe this year with 14 TDs/3 INTs so far this season.

Pribula is a dual-threat quarterback, capable of throwing on the move, and excelling primarily in the short-passing game. He can improvise, make plays with his feet, and does a good job running the read-option. Conversely, Pribula is patient in the pocket and sometimes doesn’t trust his reads, so he can sometimes be way late on his throws, and sometimes he misses his reads completely. Pribula hasn’t shown great reads and anticipation on throws, which has put a limit on downfield or explosive plays.

Pribula has shown some really nice accuracy at times, particularly into tight window throws:

QB Beau Pribula fits it in to WR Isaiah Robinson for 12 yards

Pribula shows good chemistry with his tight ends, and here has perfect timing and placement on his throw:

QB Beau Pribula hits a covered TE Dakota Twitty for 25 yards - great accuracy on the throw

Similarly, he makes an other nice throw to his tight end down the sideline (I imagine these are first-read throws):

QB Beau Pribula makes a nice throw down the sideline to TE John Rogers for 27 yards

Pribula does a nice job of buying time in the pocket for making a nice throw down the sideline here (Pribula seems most comfortable with his deep shots being back shoulder throws down the sideline):

QB Beau Pribula under pressure and makes a nice throw down the sideline for WR Rico Flores Jr for 26 yards

Here Pribula shows some nice touch in layering the throw over the underneath defender:

QB Beau Pribula pump fakes and then layers the through nicely in to TE Dakota Twitty for 17 yards

However, Pribula also has plenty of moments where his accuracy just gets away from him. Sometimes, even without pressure, he can completely misfire:

The largest early season question for the Cal Women’s Basketball roster is how was it going to replace Sakima Walker’s 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1+ block and overall defensive presence in the key. We knew that returning post Naya Ojukwu could shore up the interior scoring from her play last season. Finnish center, Albina Syla, in her first several games was able to demonstrate some of the shot blocking and defensive prowess, but isn’t quite the intimidation force that Walker was last season.

Jovana Jevtovic had flashed some skills early on, but was bullied out by UCLA’s immense size. However, against a team like USF, whose tallest regular is 6’2”, the 6’4” Jevtovic used her long arms, really great hands and deft footwork on rolls and dives to the basket to dominate, sinking 8-9, including 2-2 from downtown against the Dons, dropping her 18 points in only 13 minutes, earning a nomination to the ACC Freshman of the Week short list.

Jevtovic is still a freshman, and has a lot of room to grow strength and confidence wise, but her skills will be a welcome presence off the bench.

On Sunday, in the Lake Tahoe Blue Event center, despite misfiring from 3 point range, the Bears leapt out to a 22-12 first quarter lead and cruising all the way home 87-65 win.

The Bears had balanced scoring across the board with Taylor Barnes with 18, Ruby Perkins continuing her strong freshman play with 12, and Gisella Maul chipping in 10.

Another point of encouragement, with her 3 point shot not connecting, star Lulu Twidale found other ways to contribute leading the team with 9 rebounds (!) and 6 assists.

There isn’t a lot we can learn from a game against an overmatched opponent, but its nice to be able to put a team away early and easily.

The Cal women return to the court at Haas, Nov 12 vs. the College of Charleston.

Notes:

The three Aussies were 2-15 combined from 3 point range. We think because Australia doesn’t have high mountains, the altitude adjustment was something they’ll have to work on.
The USF Dons have 13 players on their roster hailing from 11 countries! France, Spain, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Taiwan, Slovakia, Ohio, Italy and Poland.

DBD 2026-11-10: Team

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 11:32:18 GMT

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Cal Football’s 2026 Offensive Identity: Part 3

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 11:03:30 GMT

Intro

Cal has entered the home stretch of the 2026 season sitting at a 3-6 record and needing to win out to qualify for a bowl game. It has been, to put it mildly, disastrous. So disastrous, that I question the utility in turning to the data to compare these first nine games to Cal’s thirteen games in 2025. Nevertheless, we persist. I will note trends based on my previous analysis from after this season’s game against UNLV.

Playcalls

Question: What proportion of playcalls are passes vs. runs?

Here are the playcalls so far with the 2025 offense in blue and the 2026 offense in gold:

Our run/pass ratio is now identical in the first and second halves, similar to last season. Since playing UNLV, we have been passing more in the back half of our games, though if you watched them, you’d know that it’s due to desperate/garbage time playcalling kicking in.

Here are the playcalls divided by quarter:

Like I said, desperate/garbage time uptick in throwing the ball.

Passing

Question: How has the passing game looked against each opponent?

The boxplots here plot receptions by game and season. (Here is a helpful refresher on how to read boxplots.) Games with more completions are listed higher up on the graph.

Note that we are not completing very many passes beyond 10 yards. Some of the gold boxes are quite small (especially Wake Forest and NC State), indicating that there is not a ton of variation in the yardage that our completed passes are picking up. Remember that for later.

Question: How distributed is our passing game among the receiver room?

Below I disaggregate the data to show receptions by player and season. I only include receivers averaging at least one catch per game. 2026 players need to have made at least nine catches thus far, and 2025 players need to have made thirteen catches over the course of last season. Players with more catches per game are listed first.

In terms of volume and expected yardage per catch, Chase Hendricks has emerged as this year’s Jacob De Jesus. We also see a ton of pass catchers lower on the list this year as injuries have forced us to utilize running backs Adam Mohammed, Ashten Emory, and Anthony League as receivers (with minimal upside).

Question: How does the passing game compare to last year overall?

Here’s a box plot summarizing the information for the teams as a whole.

This is a sobering one. We are averaging fewer yards per completion this year compared to last. The smaller width of the gold box compared to the blue also indicates there’s not much variation in yardage per completed pass. In other words, we have regressed, and we are predictable.

Running

Question: How has the run game looked against each opponent?

The boxplots here plot runs by game and season. Games with more runs are listed higher up on the graph.

I simply must point out the incredible run for a 35 yard loss against Virginia Tech throwing off the graphic. In keeping with our (much belated) pivot toward the pass, each of the last four games fall in the bottom five of runs attempted this year.

Question: How distributed is our run game among rushers?

Below I disaggregate the data to show runs by player and season. I only include runners averaging at least one run per game.

Ashten Emory has shot up in rushing attempts since Adam Mohammed focused on recovering from injury. Though based on the yardage he’s averaging, he’s the clear RB2.

Question: How does the run game compare to last year overall?

Here’s a box plot summarizing the information for the teams as a whole.

Not much of a difference has emerged from the previous analysis. Cal’s rushing offense is more or less matching last year’s average output.

Conclusion and Questions

It’s been a tough few weeks for the Cal faithful. I found myself yearning for the close losses I’d become accustomed to under Justin Wilcox — losses that enraged me but at least allowed me the dignity of believing in “almost.” These blowout losses to mostly unimpressive teams have given me a new feeling watching this team: boredom.

This is not me giving up. The program has made clear what is needed to survive realignment. Butts in seats. Eyes on screens. I’ll continue to do my part. I just wish it could be fun again.

Go Bears.

The 129th Big Game Kick-Off Time Announced: Cal v. Stanford College Football 2026

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 18:31:26 GMT

Courtesy: Cal Athletics via Catharyn Hayne / KLC fotos

The 129th Big Game between Cal and Stanford will kick off at 4:30 p.m. Pacific on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, the Atlantic Coast Conference and Cal Athletics announced Monday morning.

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The Cal v. Stanford college football game will air on the ACC Network.

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Stanford has the all-time series advantage with a 66-51-11 record in the Big Game rivalry. Cal lost last year’s big game 10-31 in Stanford, Calif., breaking a four-game win steak.

Both Cal and Stanford have struggled this season with identical 2-4 records in the Atlantic Coast Conference league games. Cal is 3-6 in the 2026 college football season, and Stanford is 4-5.

DBD 2026-11-09: Happy Diwali

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 11:34:30 GMT

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Men’s Basketball: Cal Falls to No. 10 Houston, 86-68

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 11:03:31 GMT

photo via Calbears.com

I had one overriding thought while watching Cal fall to Houston in Lake Tahoe: Lee Dort, get well soon.

Cal’s veteran center was in the arena but not dressed for the game as he continues to heal from an off-season injury. And against a team like top 10 Houston, with big strong athletes to spare, his absence was obvious.

When Houston was sending waves of athletic 6’8’’ bigs at the glass, his absence was obvious. When one of Cal’s guards penetrated into the lane and looked to dish to a big man inside, his absence was obvious. When Cal’s back-up bigs got into foul trouble, his absence was obvious.

This is not to suggest that, had Lee Dort been healthy, Cal would have beaten Houston. The Cougars are a top 10 team for a good reason, and Lee Dort would not have made up the 18 point difference between the teams. Houston’s 86-68 win was not in doubt based on one injury.

But the path was easier without Cal’s primary big man. Houston started the game red hot, scoring on 11 of their first 12 possessions. Many of those buckets were pretty easy finishes inside, or put backs from misses. Dort’s presence inside might well have led to a handful more stops early, delaying the inevitable that much longer.

And later in the season, when the Bears are playing other teams, Dort’s availability could indeed be the difference between wins and losses. Here’s to hoping that he’s back soon.

For the last six years, Kelvin Sampson and Houston have had approximately the best defense in college basketball. The Cougars have finished 9th or better in adjusted defensive efficiency in each of those six seasons, powered by brilliant shot contesting skills and the best 2 point defense anywhere in the country.

So I was actually pretty encouraged with Cal’s offensive effort on Sunday night. The Bears shot a solid 52% on their 2 point shots, 35% on their 3s, and weren’t horribly turnover prone against Houston’s relentless ball pressure and passing lane contests.

Most of Cal’s guards all flashed at times. Jordan Ross was a great creator off the dribble drive, going 7-10 on his 2s with 5 assists. Michael Cooper got hot from 3 and took care of the ball. Semetri Carr was composed and helped out on the glass. Jovani Ruff got downhill successfully in his limited minutes.

Against the best defense Cal will face all year long, the Bears had a solid all-around offensive performance, made all the more impressive that they were without their starting center. Mantas Kocanas and Dk Dut can contribute on the defensive end, but just aren’t yet ready to be consistent offensive contributors. That Cal’s guards could produce without an inside threat against a defense of this caliber is very encouraging.

Defensively . . . well, there’s work to be done. Houston’s one consistent weakness under Sampson has been shooting, and while there’s reason to think that this Cougar team might be more gifted offensively, allowing Houston to shoot 29-51 from 2 is a concern. It’s particularly a concern because at times it looked like Cal was sagging off and allowing Houston to attempt 3s, and yet the Cougars still managed to get the ball inside.

Some of this is Dort’s absence, some of this is probably related to a new group of players learning to play defense together, but there were some rough rotations and screen responses. We’re only two games in, but so far the offense has been well ahead of the defense in the early going.

If Cal had this exact same roster a decade ago, I’d be patiently excited to watch this team grow in anticipation of a big 2027-28 season, because every single player on the roster other than Lee Dort has another year of eligibility remaining. But because it’s 2026 and I’ve watched every single Mark Madsen team get ~80% turned over every off-season, it’s harder to get excited about the possibility that Cal can develop an intriguing roster through a rebuilding year.

Still, I’m curious to see how Mark Madsen handles his rotation this season, because Cal has a deeper roster than prior seasons. Against Houston, Cal gave 10 players at least 12 minutes, going two deep at basically every position on the floor.

Will Madsen look to whittle down the rotation as he assesses the roster? Will he try to play a deeper rotation and maybe play a higher intensity brand of basketball and attempt to wear the opponent down? All of the guards and wings who have seen the floor in meaningful action so far have looked like they belong, but what is the right combination to get Cal playing effective team defense?

Cal will be back in Berkeley for a two week homestand that starts with a tough game against USC on Wednesday before three games against smaller schools that will be expected wins.

Cal Men’s Basketball Live Chat: First test on the Road against #10 Houston in Lake Tahoe

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:15:43 GMT

How to watch Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball

When: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
Tip-Off Time: 5:30 p.m. Pacific
Where: Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif.
TV: The CW
Radio: Cal Bears Sports Network on KSFO 810 AM; Channel 266 on SiriusXM Radio, the SiriusXM app and website; or The Varsity Network app

Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston College Basketball 2026 Betting Odds and Lines

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 15:15:35 GMT

The California Golden Bears are underdogs in their matchup against the Houston Cougars in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic pre-season men’s college basketball tournament, according to the latest odds.

Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball betting pick, odds and lines: Who is favored to win?

According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest college basketball betting odds for Cal v. Houston in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic is Cal +19.5, as of Sunday morning.

The Cal +19.5 line implies the California Golden Bears are about 20-point underdogs against the Houston Cougars in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic pre-season tournament matchup.

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According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest point total for Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball “over-or-under” total score bets is between 145.5 and 147.5 points, as of Sunday morning.

The Cal +19.5 line and 145.5-point total imply the California Golden Bears will lose to the Houston Cougars in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic with a scoreline of about 83-63.

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According to data independently collected by Write for California, the latest Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball “moneyline” ranges between Cal +1350 and Cal +1900 and Houston -2400 and Houston -10000, as of Sunday morning.

Moneyline bets pay out based on the Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball game’s result, regardless of any point “spread” handicap or margin of victory.

A bet on Cal’s most favorable moneyline of Cal +1900 pays a $1,900 profit on a $100 bet because Cal is the underdog in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic tournament matchup. In contrast, a wager on Houston’s most favorable moneyline of Houston -2400 requires a $2,400 bet to pay out a $100 profit because Houston is the favorite to beat Cal.

Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball: What you should know

The California Golden Bears are 2-0 to start the 2026-2027 men’s college basketball season, while the Houston Cougars are 1-0.

The Houston Cougars began the season ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press’ pre-season top-25 poll and No. 8 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll. Houston is ranked the same in both polls heading into its game against Cal.

The California Golden Bears have a 3-4 record against the Houston Cougars in a series dating back to 1971. Cal has won the last two meetings, including its most recent meeting, a 95-70 win in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Nov. 20, 1999, as part of the Top of the World Classic basketball tournament.

Earlier this week, Cal beat Radford, 84-70, and kept the Big South program to 47.1% from the board. California guard Nojus Indrusaitis made six three-point shots and completed the night with 30 points.

In its last game, Houston defeated La Salle, cruising to a 94-55 win at home in a foul-heavy game. The Cougars’ season opener saw 46 fouls, including three technicals and one flagrant foul.

Still early for both programs, neither Cal nor Houston have played away from home this season.

According to Vegas Insider, which reports sportsbooks’ offered odds and lines, the Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball line opened earlier this week at about Cal +17.5. The Cal v. Houston total for “over-or-under” total score bets opened at about 145.5 points. The same website reports the Cal v. Houston moneyline opened at about Cal +1200 and Houston -2400.

According to Vegas Insider, 80% of Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball bets with a point spread have been on Houston and 96% of Cal v. Houston moneyline bets have been on the favorites, the Houston Cougars.

Vegas Insider also reports 91% of the dollars wagered on Cal v. Houston with a point spread have been on Houston and 95% of dollars bet on the Cal v. Houston moneyline have been on the favorites, the Houston Cougars.

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How to Watch the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston College Basketball: Live Stream and TV Channel

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 11:01:45 GMT

The California Golden Bears (2-0) meet the No. 10 Houston Cougars (1-0) in the inaugural Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic pre-season basketball tournament this weekend.

Cal faces its first real test of the season with a meeting against a team expected by many to make a deep March Madness run.

Here is how you can watch the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston college basketball game Sunday evening.

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How to watch Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball

When: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
Tip-Off Time: 5:30 p.m. Pacific
Where: Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nev.
TV: The CW
Radio: Cal Bears Sports Network on KSFO 810 AM; Channel 986 on SiriusXM Radio, the SiriusXM app and website; or The Varsity Network app

How to watch Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball online

The Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic pre-season men’s college basketball tournament game between Cal v. Houston will air on The CW.

CW Sports can be streamed online on the ESPN app or the ESPN website with an ESPN subscription, on major paid cable or satellite TV providers’ online services, and popular online TV streaming services.

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Write for California will not have a live online video stream of the Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball game or any other game in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic.

A Write for California subscription never includes live TV streams of college basketball games, including Cal v. Houston, or any other sports games or events.

How to Watch the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston College Basketball: Live Stream and TV Channel

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 11:01:45 GMT

The California Golden Bears (2-0) meet the No. 10 Houston Cougars (1-0) in the inaugural Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic pre-season basketball tournament this weekend.

Cal faces its first real test of the season with a meeting against a team expected by many to make a deep March Madness run.

Here is how you can watch the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston college basketball game Sunday evening.

Leave a comment

How to watch Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball

When: Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
Tip-Off Time: 5:30 p.m. Pacific
Where: Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nev.
TV: The CW
Radio: Cal Bears Sports Network on KSFO 810 AM; Channel 986 on SiriusXM Radio, the SiriusXM app and website; or The Varsity Network app

How to watch Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic - Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball online

The Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic pre-season men’s college basketball tournament game between Cal v. Houston will air on The CW.

Subscribe now

Write for California will not have a live online video stream of the Cal v. Houston men’s college basketball game or any other game in the Caesars Lake Tahoe Classic.

A Write for California subscription never includes live TV streams of college basketball games, including Cal v. Houston, or any other sports games or events.

Cal Football Bye Week Live Chat

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 16:58:31 GMT

Tired of Cal football? Don’t have to worry about them this week. Here’s your Saturday college football schedule.

#9 BYU at #3 Utah
9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET, ABC
#7 Texas at #18 Missouri
9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET, ESPN
#8 UCLA at Minnesota
9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET, FOX
Iowa State at Baylor
9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET, FS1
Clemson at Syracuse
9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET, ESPN2
Florida State at Boston College
9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET, ACC Network
North Carolina at UConn
9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET, CBSSN
Tulsa at Tulane
9:00 am PT / 12:00 pm ET, ESPNU
Duke at NC State
9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET, The CW
Maryland at Purdue
9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET, BTN
Arkansas at Auburn
9:45 am PT / 12:45 pm ET, SEC Network
Oklahoma State at Kansas State
10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET, TNT
Old Dominion at Coastal Carolina
10:00 am PT / 1:00 pm ET, ESPN+
Georgia State at App State
11:30 am PT / 2:30 pm ET, ESPN+
Texas A&M at #21 South Carolina
12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET, ESPN
UL Monroe at Arkansas State
12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET, ESPN+
Delaware at Kennesaw State
12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET, ESPN+
#5 Alabama at #14 LSU
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, ABC
#23 Oregon at #12 Ohio State
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Merrimack at #16 Wake Forest
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, ACC Network
Cincinnati at #17 Houston
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, FOX
Penn State at Washington
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, FS1
Charlotte at UAB
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, ESPN+
Temple at Navy
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, CBSSN
Marshall at Georgia Southern
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, ESPN+
Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee
12:30 pm PT / 3:30 pm ET, ESPN+
UCF at Kansas
12:45 pm PT / 3:45 pm ET, ESPN2
Rice at North Texas
1:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm ET, ESPNU
Northern Illinois at San Jose State
1:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm ET, MW+
Missouri State at Florida International
1:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm ET, ESPN+
Louisiana Tech at Troy
1:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm ET, ESPN+
Vanderbilt at Mississippi State
1:15 pm PT / 4:15 pm ET, SEC Network
Rutgers at Wisconsin
1:15 pm PT / 4:15 pm ET, BTN
South Alabama at Louisiana
2:00 pm PT / 5:00 pm ET, ESPN+
#25 Boise State at Colorado State
3:00 pm PT / 6:00 pm ET, USA Network
#6 Kentucky at #13 Tennessee
3:15 pm PT / 6:15 pm ET, ESPN
Sam Houston at Jacksonville State
4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET, CBSSN
#1 Miami at #11 Notre Dame
4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET, NBC
#2 Georgia at #10 Ole Miss
4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET, ABC
#19 Iowa at Northwestern
4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET, FOX
Colorado at Arizona State
4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET, ESPN2
Louisville at Georgia Tech
4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET, ACC Network
Michigan State at Michigan
4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET, Peacock
Air Force at Army
4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET, CBS
Oklahoma at #24 Florida
4:45 pm PT / 7:45 pm ET, SEC Network
Liberty at New Mexico State
5:00 pm PT / 8:00 pm ET, ESPNU
West Virginia at #15 Texas Tech
6:30 pm PT / 9:30 pm ET, ESPN
Fresno State at Utah State
6:30 pm PT / 9:30 pm ET, USA Network
Hawaii at UTEP
6:30 pm PT / 9:30 pm ET, FS1
Texas State at Oregon State
7:30 pm PT / 10:30 pm ET, The CW
Wyoming at UNLV
7:30 pm PT / 10:30 pm ET, CBSSN

The Rodcast: Cal vs Radford

Bear Insider — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 01:02:23 GMT

Cal Football DRAMA with Ron Rivera and Tosh Lupoi….does the program have DIRECTION? Breaking it down with Joaquin Ruiz

Bleav Podcast Network — Sat, 07 Nov 2026 00:41:49 GMT

Topics:

the bleakness of Cal Football
Digesting Tosh Lupoi and Ron Rivera’s comments
What’s the culpability level?
How does this look going forward

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Bear Insider Podcast - The Latest in the Lair: Ryan Gutierrez

Bear Insider — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 20:58:20 GMT

NY Times Reports Rift Between Cal Head Coach Tosh Lupoi & General Manager Ron Rivera

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 15:24:49 GMT

When it rains, it floods for the California Golden Bears in 2026.

Bruce Feldman, Stewart Mandel & Antonio Morales of The New York Times/The Athletic report on an ongoing rift between Cal GM Ron Rivera & head coach Tosh Lupoi from sources close to the Cal athletic program.

@slmandel & @AntonioCMorales.\n\nFree story link: ","username":"BruceFeldmanCFB","name":"Bruce Feldman","profile_image_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/profile_images/1037818091172855808/E4u1MfpZ_normal.jpg","date":"2026-11-06T14:48:01.000Z","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"reply_count":0,"retweet_count":4,"like_count":4,"impression_count":9189,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7751257/2026/11/06/cal-football-tosh-lupoi-messy-season/?unlocked_article_code=1.OVE.LwSt.0Mldp8nSv42J&source=user_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share","title":"Inside Cal’s messy first year under Tosh Lupoi: How a season that began with hope spiraled (Gift Article)","description":"Frustrations behind the scenes with Cal football of spilled out into public. What's behind it all?","domain":"nytimes.com","image":"https://pbs.substack.com/news_img/2118717088210821123/JQnZg5sV?format=jpg&name=orig"},"video_url":null,"video_preview_media_key":null,"belowTheFold":false}" data-component-name="Twitter2ToDOM">

As you probably guessed from yesterday’s radio interview, Rivera has been critical of the approach that Lupoi has taken on his first year on the job, struggling with hiring, decision-making, and feedback. Today’s piece contends that this has been an ongoing struggle all season.

Even more alarming is that Rivera, who led the head coaching search, sought the Cal coaching job himself after firing Justin Wilcox. This never came to pass, but this does lead to questions about ulterior motives in Rivera’s own management of Lupoi. Is he doing this for the good of the program, or does he have his own agenda in mind?

Rivera told The Athletic on Thursday he supports Lupoi and described his growing pains as typical for a first-time head coach.
“In today’s world, with the kind of money being spent in college athletics, people feel they’re entitled to immediate success,” Rivera said. “The expectations were ginormous, and I don’t think that was fair. We’ve got a guy who’s a first-time head coach; he’s going to learn.”

Lupoi also has been apparently too hands-on, burning out Cal staff. He has made himself present in multiple places outside the football locker room, including helping in securing business deals like the Databricks partnership, and has spent a lot of time on off-the-field deals like figuring out how to stage concerts at Memorial Stadium. He also remains very involved in his major strength, recruiting, but has apparently spent too much time in these places.

In an interview with The Athletic on Thursday, Lupoi said he’d been reflecting on his approach during Cal’s current bye week.
“What has worked for me in the past is not necessarily the best course of action here at Cal,” Lupoi said. “It starts with me recognizing that and adapting. I’m attempting to do a much better job at, for example, how I communicate in group environments, adjusting the time practicing in full pads … there’s things that I recognize need to be adjusted.”

There was a meeting between Rivera, Lupoi and Chancellor Rich Lyons on Monday, so you can imagine things have gotten pretty serious in the past week for these struggles to be going public.

This is a brutal piece for Cal football. It makes Lupoi look overwhelmed. It makes Rivera look overbearing. And right in the middle of it is a spiralling team, heading toward the bottom of Power 4 with three games to go.

Cal Women’s Basketball 2026-2027 Season Preview

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 11:02:37 GMT

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Cal women’s basketball, on the back of just narrowly missing the NCAA tournament, is returning four starters.

Forgive me if I belabor the point, but just so we’re clear: last year’s team, who beat two tournament teams and lost by single digits to five other tournament teams, is returning four starters.

I think that simple fact is worth intrinsically celebrating, regardless of what the Bears achieve this year.

After suffering the sting of just missing the NCAA tournament, Lulu Twidale, Gisella Maul, Mjracle Sheppard, and Taylor Barnes all could have easily transferred to another team. Any of the four would have been highly sought after players that nearly every team in the country would have wanted on the roster. Hell, based on how other people ranked the players available in the transfer portal, I think Lulu Twidale would have been one of the 5 or 10 most sought after players in the country.

They all chose to come back to Berkeley and play for Charmin Smith.

For fans who want to watch Cal win games, retaining these players is tremendously exciting. Cal will enter the season with expectations of making the NCAA tournament and competing toward the top of the ACC.

For fans who have developed an emotional connection to the players on the roster, this is a wonderful development. Those of us who raised their hands in anticipation every time Lulu released a quick trigger 3, who loved watching Mjracle make life miserable for an opposing guard, who thrilled at the development from Taylor and Gisella last year, we all have something to celebrate.

And for fans who hate the transfer portal, who hate seeing constant roster churn year after year, you will get to enjoy a year that will remind them of the good old days. You can watch individual players develop, and watch a cohesive roster develop, just like back in the day when you could expect most of a team’s roster to return.

On Thursday night, the Bears crushed Long Beach State. This was expected - LBSU was just 5-25 last year, lost their best player, and fired their coach. They’re basically starting over. Cal went on an 18-2 run that started midway through the 1st quarter to put the game away, then outscored LBSU 30-5 in the 3rd quarter to put on an exclamation point. It was 76-25 when Cal called off the dogs, and the only drama left was whether or not Shannon Dowell was going to get a triple double (she finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists).

On one hand, LBSU was too overmatched to learn a ton from this game. On the other hand, Cal treated LBSU like an overmatched team, and dominated them accordingly, which is one sign that the Bears are poised to improve on their 25-26 season.

Cal played 13 different players (with Mjracle Sheppard still out with an injury) and nobody played more than 26 minutes. Five Bears hit double figures and 12 Bears hit a field goal. Of the Bears who played, only reserve Anastasia Drosouni didn’t score, in part because she unfortunately suffered an injury shortly after entering the game.

Cal’s next few games will tell us a bit more - USF and UCSB are pretty solid mid-majors - but we won’t really start learning a ton about this team until they play Gonzaga in Hawaii on November 23, and when the Bears finally play power conference competition when Texas A&M comes to Berkeley on December 3.

So, how good will this team be?

1-4, the Bears look talented and deep. Obviously you have Cal’s 4 returning starters: Mjracle Sheppard at point, Lulu at shooting guard, and Taylor Barnes and Gisella Maul on the wings. Missouri 4th year transfer Shannon Dowell and Aussie freshmen Ruby Perkins and Zara Russell look to be the primary guard/wing back-ups.

Ultimately, the answer almost certainly depends on how successful Cal is at replacing the contributions of Sakima Walker, who exhausted her eligibility last year. Cal’s center brought a little bit of everything to the position, acting as Cal’s primary rim protector, defensive rebounder, and interior scorer. One returner and two newcomers will have the chance to fill her shoes, either individually or in the aggregate. Naya Ojukwu, Albina Syla, and Jovana Jevtovic have collectively played 40 minutes in each of Cal’s first two games, and they each bring something unique to the position.

Cal fans of course already know Naya Ojukwu, who joined Cal via transfer from Morgan State. Undersized at 6’1’’, Ojukwu is nevertheless a relentless offensive rebounder and 2nd chance finisher. Her size can sometimes limit her to playing in certain matchup situations, but she brings a unique skillset.

Albina Syla, a 3rd year transfer from Rhode Island, is probably the best interior defender of the trio. She uses her 6’5’’ frame to block and alter shots, and she’s the best defensive rebounder of the group as well.

And finally, freshman Jovana Jevtovic from Serbia may already be the best offensive player of Cal’s three centers. Already a contributor last year on a professional euro team, Jevtovic is controlled around the basket and looks like a solid finisher, and she may offer a skillset that Charmin Smith has never had from a center before: the ability to stretch the floor and hit a 3. But it remains to be seen how she’ll hold up physically against more talented opposition.

If Charmin Smith is able to either find the best option(s) among those three players, or successfully mix and match them to put them in positions to highlight their strengths, this can be a deep, dynamic team.

There are lots of reasons to watch this team. The obvious reason is that they’re going to be good. Our computer overlords expect Cal to have a winning record in the ACC and to make the tournament, and I fully agree.

I want to highlight the 2nd obvious reason: Lulu Twidale is worth the cost of admission on her own.

After suffering through a cold-shooting start to her junior season she caught fire in ACC play, hitting 37% on her 3s despite the fact that every single team started their scout with the intention of denying her looks. Her ability to get shots off quickly and hit them anyway still dazzles me.

But it was the growth in her all-around game that is worth highlighting. She improved her finishing inside, both by percentage and by volume. She improved her assist rate and lowered her turnover rate. She got to the line more frequently than ever before, and was money from the charity stripe.

In short, she improved herself from a solid rotation player into an unquestioned star offensive player. An all-conference level player that a power conference team can build around.

And she’s started the season red hot, hitting 9 of her first 14 threes on the season.

I think she’s poised for a special season, and she’d be reason enough to come to Haas Pavilion even if the team around her wasn’t expected to make the tournament. Add that in and the choice is obvious: you should make this team appointment viewing.