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Cal Football: Updated game-by-game predictions for 2020 season

By Sonny Martinez

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 30: Chase Garbers #7 of the California Golden Bears looks to pass scrambles with the ball for a first down against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half of the RedBox Bowl at Levi's Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 30: Chase Garbers #7 of the California Golden Bears looks to pass scrambles with the ball for a first down against the Illinois Fighting Illini during the second half of the RedBox Bowl at Levi's Stadium on December 30, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Patrick Laird, Cal football (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

This is a make or break season for the Wildcats and their head coach Kevin Sumlin.

Arizona hasn’t even made a bowl in Sumlin’s first two years and it’s hard to expect that to change this year.

The Wildcats defense was atrocious last season, giving up almost 36 points per game. New defensive coordinator and former Iowa State head coach Paul Rhodes is going to have his hands full with improving that side of the ball.

Arizona will also need to replace quarterback Khalil Tate, who was electrifying when he wasn’t injured. That opens the door for Grant Gunnell, who started a few games last year and completed 65 percent of his passes with nine touchdowns and just one interception.

This will be the first time Cal and Arizona have met since 2018. This will also be Cal’s first win in the series since 2009.

Final Score: Cal 44, Arizona 17 (6-1)

Another pivotal game for the Golden Bears, Utah is one of the top teams in the South and was actually in the College Football Playoff hunt until November last season.

Tyler Huntley and Zack Moss depart, but South Carolina transfer quarterback Jake Bentley steps in to smooth the transition. Seven other starters return to an offense that was good but not great in 2019.

Utah’s biggest challenge will be on defense. Kyle Whittingham’s defenses are usually solid as it was last year, ranked sixth in points per game allowed and second in yards per game allowed. The problem is that just two starters return on that side. The secondary especially could take a huge hit with both Javelin Guidry and Jaylon Johnson in the NFL.

By this point in the season, Whittingham should have his defense back to normal, even do that doesn’t mean top 10 stats. The worst case is the defense becomes bend-don’t-break and is still a good unit.

Utah is a solid contender that actually shut out Cal 35-0 last year. But again, with a healthy Garbers and so much lost by Utah, fortunes should be much different this year.

Final Score: Utah 24, Cal 30 (7-1)

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