The California Bears hit the road for their opening game of the college football season today when they take on the Northwestern Wildcats. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. (EST) start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Currently the odds for the game have Northwestern favored by double digits.

Yes, the Cal Bears were not good last season. But should they really be getting 10 points in this game at Northwestern to open the season? Many think the Wildcats are going to shock the Big Ten this season and be one of the more improved teams in college football. That won't be easy but Pat Fitzgerald will always have his guys ready to go.

This will be the first time California plays in Evanston. The Wildcats went out west last season and picked up a 44-30 decision over the Bears. Northwestern and Cal were tied 27-27 in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats were able to take advantage late in the contest. 

Here might be a reason that Wildcats are favored by double digits in this one — Northwestern has won 16 straight non-conference home games and picked up seven straight home openers by an average of better than three touchdowns per game. Obviously most of those games haven't come against teams in the power conferences, but Cal was just 1-11 last season. They've also lost 16 straight games to FBS opponents, 14 of them by at least two touchdowns. They've covered the number only twice during that time. California has gone just 6-4 in their last 10 road openers as well.

Northwestern brings back 17 starters from last year. Cal has 15 starters back. That should bode well for both teams this season as experience in college football is huge. But we don't think Northwestern is that much better than California.

This should be a pretty close game.

Free Pick: Northwestern 34, California 28

 Handicapping Tips: NCAA Week 1 Betting

Ken Thomson and Bryan Leonard From Pregame.com take a look at some handicapping tips for betting week 1 of the NCAA football season.

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