By George Devine, Sr.

After a bye week, the Golden Bears travel to face the Wildcats of Arizona. This will be Cal’s first Pac-12 game of the season, and it will pit a North division team against one from the South. Absent the bye week, Arizona has played one more game, but both teams come into the contest undefeated. Based on strength of schedule, Cal is an underdog by anywhere from 14 to 17 points.

Arizona’s offense is rated fifth in the nation, and that showed in last Saturday’s 35-28 win over Nevada: Anu Solomon passed for 278 yards, resulting in three TDs; Nick Wilson racked up 171 yards on the ground and accounted for two trips to the end zone. Cayleb Jones is Arizona’s leading receiver and caught two of Solomon’s touchdown passes against the Wolfpack. This is what the Bears’ defense will have to contend with.

On offense, look for Jared Goff to launch his long-range air attack, but to be a target for the defense of the Wildcats. The Bears’ OL, which has looked good against Northwestern and Sacramento State, will need to be in top form.

The game is set for 7 p.m. PDT and, in a reversal of usual protocol, Arizona — the home team — has chosen to wear white uniforms, so the Bears will be free to wear the blues they typically don at Strawberry Canyon.