Texas Football

2011 Bridgeport Education Holiday Bowl Matchup

The Pac-12 and Big 12 conferences battle in San Diego Dec. 28 in the second of two San Diego bowl contests. California ended the regular season on a high ntoe, while Texas has staggered to the finish line, but both teams played quality football to qualify for bowl games. This will be a chance to end the season on a high note when they go up against each other in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl.

Texas has won all four meetings against the Golden Bears, but the last matchup was back in 1970.

The current Holiday Bowl line list Texas as a 3-point chalk, while the over/under has been set at 47.5 points.

California

The Golden Bears enter this meeting on a pretty good roll, having came out on top in three of their last four games, with the only blip a 31-28 defeat to top-10 Stanford. Most recently, the Bears won at Arizona State, 47-38, to end up fourth in the Pac-12 North (4-5) and post a 2-4 mark as a visitor.

The Bears rank 47th in the nation in scoring (30 points per game) while compiling 418 yards per contest (252 through the air, 166 on the ground). Zach Maynard has completed 57 percent of his passes for 2,806 yards and 17 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. The offensive line has surrendered 22 sacks.

Keenan Allen leads the receiving crops with 89 receptions (34 more than any other player) for 1,261 yards and six touchdowns, while Isi Sofele leads the rushing game with 1,266 yards and nine touchdowns on 5.5 yards per game.

Defensively, Cal ranks 52nd in the nation in points allowed (24 ppg), allowing 339 yards per game (209 via the pass, 130 rushing) while recording 32 sacks and generating 23 turnovers – two of which converted to touchdowns (Trevor Guyton, fumble; Josh Hill, pick).

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

Texas

The Longhorns began the year 4-0 but have staggered into this bowl, losing three of their last four games – most recently a 48-24 defeat vs Baylor. Overall, Texas was 3-3 away from home this season, but did win its only game in the state of California – a 49-20 victory against UCLA.

The Longhorns list 42nd in the country in points surrendered (23 ppg), surrendering 316 yards per game (212 through the air, 104 running) while compiling 23 sacks and generating 21 turnovers – with one being taken back for a score (Carrington Byndom, pick).

Emmanuel Acho paces this defensive unit with 122 stops (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-best three interceptions with 48 stops and two forced fumbles.

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

David Ash and Case McCoy switch off at QB, combining to complete 59 % of their passes for 1,971 yards and 10 scores with 12 picks. The offensive line has allowed 26 sacks. Mike Davis is the best receiving target with 45 catches for 609 yards and one score, while Jaxon Shipley has 40 receptions for 593 yards and three touchdowns in nine games.

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Texas Goodwin Big Block on UCLA Abbott