Kickoff: 7 p.m. today, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego
Line: UT by 3
TV, radio: ESPN, KTKR-AM 760 (Longhorns broadcast), KZDC-AM 1250 (ESPN Radio broadcast)
Online: holidaybowl.com
Storyline: Both the Longhorns and Golden Bears had aspirations of finishing their seasons at a more glamorous bowl game but will have to settle on shooting for an eighth victory and Top 25 finish instead. Cal ended its season playing its best, winning three of its last four and nearly upsetting Stanford, while UT dropped three of its last four.
Numbers: UT has won seven of its last nine bowl games and is 8-4 in the postseason under Mack Brown. ... Cal went 5-2 in seven consecutive bowl appearances under Jeff Tedford before staying home last year. ... The Longhorns lead the series against Cal 4-0, but the teams haven?t met since UT won 56-15 in 1970.
MATCHUPS
Express-News staff writer Mike Finger breaks down what to expect in tonight?s Holiday Bowl:
Quarterbacks
Zach Maynard struggled early in his first season as Cal?s starter, but he completed 68 percent of his passes with a 154.3 rating in his last four games. UT?s time-share setup with David Ash and Case McCoy remains in flux, with neither having done anything to seize control of the job.
Edge: California
Running backs
Diminutive junior Isi Sofele is only 5-foot-8, but he?s been tough for Cal opponents to bring down, racking up 1,270 yards this season. But when UT freshmen Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron are healthy ? and the Longhorns insist they are ? few college running tandems are better.
Edge: Texas
Receivers/Tight ends
Even after facing Ryan Broyles, Justin Blackmon and Kendall Wright, UT coach Mack Brown said Cal?s Keenan Allen might be the best receiver the Longhorns have seen this year. UT?s Jaxon Shipley is a game-breaker, too, but might be limited by a knee injury.
Edge: California
Offensive line
The Bears? unit is more experienced, and left tackle Mitchell Schwartz bullied his way to first-team All Pac-12 honors. David Snow anchors a young UT line that improved dramatically during the season but is still prone to occasional lapses.
Edge: California
Defensive line
End Trevor Guyton is the star of a three-man front that helped Cal rank 26th nationally in total defense. UT?s defense was just a bit better overall (ranking 15th), and Jackson Jeffcoat, Alex Okafor and Kheeston Randall were big reasons.
Edge: Texas
Linebackers
This is the home of each team?s defensive leader and most productive player. Cal?s Mychal Kendricks was the Pac-12 player of the year and had a solid running buddy in D.J. Holt. UT?s Emmanuel Acho was a first-team All-Big 12 selection and got lots of help from Keenan Robinson.
Edge: Even
Secondary
Playing in conferences heavily reliant on the pass, both teams have secondaries accustomed to being tested. The Longhorns were better statistically, with both nickel back Kenny Vaccaro and cornerback Carrington Byndom earning first-team all-conference honors.
Edge: Texas
Special teams
Cal is much better than UT at punting (with All-Pac 12 honoree Bryan Anger) and covering kickoffs, while the Longhorns have a huge advantage in the return game. And kickers Giorgio Tavecchio and Justin Tucker both have 85-percent accuracy and 50-plus-yard range.
Edge: Even
Coaching/intangibles
Two of the longest-tenured coaches in major college football, Cal?s Jeff Tedford and UT?s Mack Brown have set higher standards for their programs than the ones reached by their teams this year. Both are hoping to return to their peak, and Brown?s was a bit higher.
Edge: Texas
Mike Finger: UT 20, Cal 17
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