2011 Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl Overview

2011
Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl Overview

The
Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences clash in San Diego Dec. 28 in the 2nd of two San
Diego bowl games. California finished the regular season strongly, while Texas
has staggered to the finish line, but both squads played quality football to be
invited to this bowl game. This will be a chance to close the season on a good
note when they go up against each other in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday
Bowl.

Texas
has been victorious in all four games vs. Cal, though the last matchup came in
1970.

The
latest Holiday Bowl line list Texas as a 3-point favorite, while the over/under
has been listed at 47.5 points.

California

The
Golden Bears enter this game on a pretty good run, having won three of their
last four games, with the only blemish a 31-28 loss to top-10 Stanford. Most
recently, Cal won at Arizona State, 47-38, to end up fourth in the Pac-12 North
(4-5) and finish with a 2-4 record as a visitor.

The
Bears rank 47th nationally in points (30 points per game) while racking up 418
yards per game (252 via the pass, 166 running). Zach Maynard has connected on 57
percent of his passes for 2,806 yards and 17 scores with 11 interceptions. The
offensive line has surrendered 22 sacks.

Keenan
Allen leads the receiving crops with 89 grabs (34 more than anyone else) for
1,261 yards and six touchdowns, while Isi Sofele leads the rushing attack with
1,266 yards and nine scores on 5.5 yards per contest.

Defensively,
Cal ranks 52nd in the country in points given up (24 ppg), giving up 339 yards
per game (209 passing, 130 running) while recording 32 sacks and forcing 23
turnovers two of which converted to TDs (Trevor Guyton, fumble; Josh Hill,
interception).

Mychal
Kendricks leads the defense with 96 tackles, adding three sacks, a team-best two
interceptions and two fumble recoveries, while D.J. Holt adds 81 stops with two
sacks. Guyton and Ernest Owusu have nine combined sacks, chipping in 69 tackles,
three forced fumbles and two recoveries.

Texas

Texas
began the year 4-0 but have struggled coming into this bowl, dropping three of
their last four games most recently a 48-24 defeat vs Baylor. Overall, UT was
3-3 as a visitor this season, but did win its only game in the state of
California a 49-20 win at UCLA.

The
Longhorns list 42nd nationally in points surrendered (23 ppg), giving up 316
yards per game (212 passing, 104 on the ground) while compiling 23 sacks and
forcing 21 turnovers with one being returned for a TD (Carrington Byndom,
interception).

Emmanuel
Acho leads this defensive unit with 122 tackles (26 more than anyone else),
adding three sacks and a forced fumble, while Alex Okafor has seven sacks, 54
stops, two forced fumbles and one recovery. Quandre Diggs adds a team-high three
interceptions with 48 stops and two forced fumbles.

Texas
lists 53rd nationally in scoring offense (29 ppg), compiling 404 yards per game
(210 on the ground, 194 through the air). Malcolm Brown anchors the rushing
attack with 707 yards and five touchdowns on 4.4 yards per tote.

David
Ash and Case McCoy platoon at quarterback, combining to connect on 59 percent of
their throws for 1,971 yards and 10 touchdowns with 12 picks. The offensive line
has surrendered 26 sacks. Mike Davis is the top receiving threat with 45
receptions for 609 yards and one touchdown, while Jaxon Shipley has 40 grabs for
593 yards and three touchdowns in nine games.

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