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The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl features a matchup between the California Golden Bears (6-6, 6-6 ATS) and the Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-6, 5-7 ATS). Each team was barely bowl eligible with six wins, and were rewarded with a game on the opening day of bowl season. Cal closed the season with a 33-7 win on the road at UCLA, blowing out the Bruins in a game they were listed as 9.5-point underdogs. Texas Tech ended their season getting buried by #7 Texas 57-7, and did not come close to covering the 16.5-point spread as dogs. Texas Tech is currently listed as three point favorites. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:15 EST from Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana and can be found on ESPN.
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The California Golden Bears had to earn their spot in a bowl game the hard way, they sat at 3-6 on the season, and needed to win their final three games to become eligible. Cal pulled off the unlikely winning streak by defeating Washington State at home, then going to Stanford and UCLA in consecutive weeks and pulling out victories. Cal had a difficult schedule, and did not take any bad losses this season, their worst loss was arguably going down to Auburn as five point dogs in the beginning of the season. Multiple players will sit out this bowl game, including star linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr who led the team in tackles.
Freshman Fernando Mendoza is slated to start at quarterback here, he started the last seven games of the season for the Bears, so he will be prepared for the bowl game. Mendoza is 6'5, and averaged 207.3 passing yards per game over their recent three game winning streak. He fin ished the season with a 13-7 TD-INT ratio. Running back Jayden Ott is expected to play in this game, he had a very productive season with 105.0 rushing yards per game to go with 11 touchdowns. Ott has games with 166 yards against Stanford and 167 yards against Washington State near the end of the season. All their top receivers are expected to play, Jeremiah Hunter is a 6'2 wideout leading the team with 55.8 YPG and seven touchdowns, while 6'4 Trond Grizzell adds another 42.5 YPG and five touchdowns.
California finished the season averaging 31.6 points per game on offense, and allowing 32.7 points defensively. Cal's defense will be without their top linebacker in Orr, and an important piece in the secondary in Jeremiah Earby. This leaves defensive back Craig Woodson as their top tackler with 78 on the season, and linebacker David Reese leads the team in sacks with 6.5. Defensive back Nohl Williams leads the secondary in interceptions with two. Cal& #39;s defense forced 24 turnovers in their 12 games this season.
Players opting out: QB Sam Jackson, OT Brayden Rohme, LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB Blake Antzoulatos, CB Jeremiah Earby