The Cal Football Fan

Cal #6 in AP, NC contender

Cal has again leapfrogged a team (Texas, who narrowly escaped UCF of Conference USA) and is now ranked #6 in the Associated Press poll. The Bears remain #8 in the USA Today/Coaches poll but have narrowed the point differential to be only a few points behind #7 Wisconsin and #6 Texas.

Meanwhile, an article in the New York Times has declared an “elite class of teams … that could conceivably win the national title.” This short list of six teams includes Cal:

And behind them, there is apparently a large gap to second-tier teams, which are beating one another to perpetuate the illusion of parity. Four of those six top teams — Southern California, Louisiana State, Oklahoma and Florida — have better chances than the other two — California and West Virginia. But these six teams are so far ahead of the pack that any notion that the championship race is wide open is laughable.

The article lists USC’s “game to watch” is their visit to Cal on November 10, describing it as “the West Coast’s biggest game of the year.” As for Cal:

WHY THEY CAN WIN IT ALL: The Bears have already trounced Tennessee and play top-ranked U.S.C. at home in November. DeSean Jackson is one of the country’s most dynamic players. WHY THEY CAN’T WIN IT ALL: A pass defense ranked No. 78 nationally (241.67 yards a game) and an overall defense ranked No. 69 (371.33) does not bode well for Pacific-10 play. GAME TO WATCH: On Sept. 29 at Oregon. The Ducks have blown out Houston, Michigan and Fresno State.