2011 Bowl Predictions: California Will End Shaky Texas Season on Down Note

It's obvious that both the California Golden Bears and the Texas Longhorns have dealt with inconsistencies all year. That's why they're playing in the 2011 Holiday Bowl, and not a BCS game. While the two teams have similar records, California is better and will defeat Texas in San Diego on Wednesday. 

The strength of Texas is its defense, but the team will not be able to stop Isi Sofele and Keenan Allen. Not for four quarters. 

More importantly, the Longhorns offense will not have the punch to score consistent points against the Cal defense. This is a unit that's faced significant struggles since suffering its first loss of the season to Oklahoma on Oct. 8. 

Cal on the other hand, has finished the season on a nice hot streak. They were ultimately unsuccessful against Stanford, but won the two games before that and the game after that. And judging by similar opponents, this isn't close. 

Texas was dismantled by Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor, while losing to Kansas State. Cal had a tough loss to Oregon, but played Stanford very close all game. We can debate who the better teams are, but Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor aren't all better than Stanford—they certainly are not that much better. 

Ultimately, Texas will be done in by its lack of offense. Malcolm Brown is not consistent enough to handle Cal's defense, and the Longhorns passing game will certainly not get the job done against the Golden Bears.

This will not be revenge for the end of the 2004 season when Texas was chosen over California for a Rose Bowl berth. That was suggested by the Associated Press, but the two teams are completely different. More importantly, the Rose Bowl made the right decision there. 

That was proven when Cal lost to Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl—and Texas beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl. 

That was 2004, this is 2011. Cal is the better team here, and it will show on Wednesday night. 

Prediction: Cal 24, Texas 14

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