Wake Forest (5-1, 3-1 ACC) heads to Berkeley ranked 21st and wanting to stay that way. California (3-3, 2-1) hosts at 10:30 on ESPN2, and both teams have a shot at ACC contention.
Wake Forest insider Eloise Brightman-Rowe debates bad tackling and loves Gio Lopez, who has 13 touchdowns and one interception. Carlos Hernandez has 49 catches. Cal insider Quentin Oyelaran-Fitch protests every bad play-call. He's encouraged that quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is probable and likely to play after a concussion. Jackson Brousseau won his start, 25-20 over Virginia Tech, last week.
Cal running back Adam Mohammed is questionable. Wake Forest is missing offensive linemen Jack Hines and Dalton DeBoer, linebacker Joel Lowenberg and three others. ESPN ranks the Deacons' offense 20th, while Cal's defense sits 85th. That's the matchup to watch. Mild weather is expected, and a late kickoff in Berkeley could help the home team.
Our call: Wake Forest 33, California 21.