Tale of the Tape: Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. No. 8 California Golden Bears

In a game that defines a lot, the Golden Gophers and Golden Bears are set to meet in a golden game on a golden stage.

According to Jonathan Okanes, who covers Cal football for the Contra Costa Times and Oakland Tribune, it's "hard to say" where the Golden Bears of California are after the first two weeks "because the caliber of the opponents is a bit questionable."

"I thought Maryland would be better but the Terps struggled to put away James Madison last week. And then Cal played an FCS team in its second game. But I would say that it appears the Bears' passing game is improved, which is the key to the season."

The Gophers have started their seasons with a rough win over Syracuse in overtime and a big win over a run-heavy Air Force in their home opener. In both games, the defense proved ready to play. However, the Gopher offense has still been sputtering and eventually finding itself somewhere in the second half.

Both teams have yet to have a serious test to gauge themselves until this Saturday, but who carries an edge in certain aspects and what will it mean for the both teams overall?

Offensive Rush

California Golden Bears—294 Yards/Game
Minnesota Golden Gophers—111.5 Yards/Game

The numbers tell the story as California, much like Air Force, is a run-based team. Fortunately for the Gophers, the Bears don't run a spread option. However, it does bolster a Heisman Trophy candidate in Jahvid Best who is considered one of the best backs in the country.

Running back Duane Bennett is still trying to find himself in the Gophers offense and is barely managing 50 yards a game. With that said, the Bears obviously are going to hold the advantage in the running game.

(Min) RB Duane Bennett—105 Rush Yards, 1 Rushing TD
(Cal) RB Jahvid Best—281 Rush Yards, 42 Pass Yards, 3 Rushing TDs, 1 Receiving TD

ADVANTAGE—California

Offensive Pass

California Golden Bears—231.5 Yards/Game, five TDs
Minnesota Golden Gophers—233.5 Yards/Game, one TD

Unlike the rushing game, the numbers don't really tell the whole story here. What helps to note, both in the rushing and passing game is that the Bears played two cupcake games at home against the likes of Maryland (52-13) and Eastern Washington (59-7).

All said and done, the Gophers have distinct advantage in the passing game with Eric Decker. He should (like most weeks) be the one to fear on the Gophers offense. Weber is completing a measly 54 percent of his passes right now and will need to fix that to be able to beat the Bears in the air.

(Min) WR Eric Decker—19 Receptions, 296 Yards (148 Yards/Game)
(Cal) WR Marvin Jones—6 Receptions, 103 Yards (51.5 Yards/Game)

(Min) QB Adam Weber—39-for-71 (54.9%), 467 Pass Yards, one TD, one INT
(Cal) QB Kevin Riley—30-for-46 (65.2%), 446 Pass Yards, five TDs, 0 INT

ADVANTAGE—Minnesota

Defensive Rush

California Golden Bears—75 Yards/Game
Minnesota Golden Gophers—175.5 Yards/Game

One thing that may decide the game early is who has control of the running game (not necessarily the team that's running all over the other). By the numbers, you'd think that Cal would have a hay day with the Gopher defense, but after a closer examination, you see that's not exactly the case.

Cal has given up just 150 yards on the ground this season so far to Minnesota's 351. Then again, 261 of those yards were from Air Force's potent spread option offense that is meant to move 90 percent based on the run. On top of that, Cal's starting couple games of Maryland and Eastern Washington is hardly comparable to that of Syracuse or Air Force.

Jonathan Okanes' take on the Gophers side is, "Like most opponents, Minnesota will have to slow down Cal's running game." If the Gophers can slow down Best, Cal will be forced into the passing game.

Of the Bears, Okanes' said, "The Gophers also will have to successfully move the ball through the air because the Bears are very good at stopping the run." With that said, could the game prove to be high scoring.

Key Players:

(Cal) Linebacker Mike Mohamed
(Min) Lee Campbell (Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for Week One)
(Min) Nate Triplett (Walter Camp/National Defensive Player of the Week for Week Two)

Words to ponder...

"Cal has one of the best defensive fronts we’ll see all year, so it was a good test for our O-line."—Maryland Terrapins Quarterback Chris Turner's comments after losing 52-13 to the Bears on Sept. 5, 2009.

ADVANTAGE—Tie

Defensive Pass

California Golden Bears—194 Yards/Game
Minnesota Golden Gophers—146 Yards/Game

Minnesota would seem to have a small advantage by the numbers against the pass, but much like the defensive rush yards appear to favor Cal and are screwed by Air Force, likewise, the defensive pass is in the other aspect that doesn't show an accurate picture of Minnesota's defense.

Air Force's lack of passing game makes this comparison hard to compare, yet at the same time, they performed well against Syracuse.

It sounds almost imperative though, that the Bears display good pass defense as they will no doubt have troubles with Gopher standout Eric Decker.

Passing TDs Allowed:

Minnesota: two TDs
California: one TD

ADVANTAGE—Tie

Coaching

Minnesota Golden Gophers—Tim Brewster—Third Season (10-17)—Bowl (0-1)
California Golden Bears—Jeff Tedford—Eighth Season (59-30)—Bowl (5-1)

Coach Brewster now in his third season as coach of Minnesota has taken a team crumbling to find an identity to a team that is proving to be on the edifice of being a contender in the Big Ten.

When Glen Mason left Minnesota, the program sat on the verge of ruin as a Tim Brewster, a former tight end coach with the Denver Broncos and University of Illinois graduate, came in talking up a program with six national championships to it's name and that he vowed to get the program back to that level.

Of the game against Cal, “This is the stage that we want to be on at the University of Minnesota,” Brewster said. “We want to play in meaningful, significant games.”

Jeff Tedford, the eight-year coach of the University of California, has brought Cal out of many troubles, except after winning the conference title a couple years ago, Cal fell out and lost six of their nine games of their conference schedule.

As 2009 has opened up, the Bears are making positive ground going 2-0 and scoring at least 50 points in each game.

Cal is trying to go to 3-0 for the fifth time in Jeff Tedford’s eight years as head coach. The Bears were not 3-0 in any of the five seasons prior to Tedford’s arrival.

ADVANTAGE—California

Momentum

California Golden Bears—Two Straight 50-Point Victories at Home
Minnesota Golden Gophers—Overtime Victory, Home/Stadium Opener Victory

• California was just 1-4 on the road last season and has lost eight of its past nine games on the opponent’s home field. The only road win in that span came against Washington State.
• Minnesota has seized two come-from-behind victories.
• Cal has yet to commit a turnover, making the Bears one of just three teams who have played two games without turning the ball over.
• California leads series 3-2 (last meeting 2006, 42-17 California).
• Gophers linebacker Nate Triplett, who finished Saturday’s game with 17 tackles, a fumble recovery and a touchdown, won conference and national honors for his performance. The Maple Plains, Minn., native earned the Big Ten’s co-defensive player of the week award and the Walter Camp Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week. As of the first part of the week, he was a candidate for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week.
• Although much has been made of California’s failings in last season’s early game at Maryland, the Bears are actually 4-1 under Jeff Tedford in games that started before noon West Coast time.

ADVANTAGE—Tie

Overall Advantage?

With No. 8 Ranking, we'll give California the edge. However, don't be surprised if the Golden Gophers get the best of the Bears on the Saturday.