The Cal Bears are favored by three points over the Utes, but Cal coach Jeff Tedford doesn't sound like a coach who believes the prognosticators, saying during a teleconference call Thursday that he has plenty of worries about the Utes.
"They are explosive on offense and defense and are experienced, physical and athletic," he said. "They are solid on special teams they are a great football team. They lost three games, TCU got away from them, but besides that they were very close against really what I think were Top 10 football teams. We are going to have to play out best to be successful no doubt about that."
He said the Utes' defense has no weakness, naming Kepa Gaison and Koa Misi as players who are causing some of his concern.
"I don't see any holes in their defense, they are very solid."
As for his own team, Tedford said not many adjustments needed to be made now that its known star running back Jahvid Best won't play in the bowl game.
He hasn't recovered enough from the effects of injuries suffered against Oregon State on Nov. 7, which means Shane Vereen will handle the majority of the carries.
He averaged 148 yards in the last three games in Best's absence. Best finished the season with 141 carries for 867 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Vereen has 163 carries for 830 yards and 10 touchdowns.
"It doesn't change much as far as what we've been doing," he said. "Maybe the only difference is he and Shane rotated more and when Jahvid was available."
Not knowing whether Best would play didn't affect the Utes much either, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
"Vereen is very capable," Whittingham said. "He's almost the same guy. Best is the premier guy, but Vereen, the next guy, is very good."
Aiono signs
James Aiono , the top junior college recruit last year when he signed with the Utes, has signed a financial aid agreement and will enroll in school for the spring semester as a junior.
Aiono was expected to be with the Utes for the 2009 season but didn't complete the necessary academic work at Snow College.
The defensive end prepped at Murray High and was a first-team All-American for Snow College in 2008.
Injury update
Tedford was a little guarded when asked about the status of defensive back Syd'Quan Thompson , who re-injured an ankle early in Cal's final game against Washington.
Tedford didn't elaborate on the extent of the injury but said Thompson is practicing. "It looks like he is going to be ready to go for the game barring anything that happens between now and then," he said.
An All-Pac-10 player, it's expected Thompson will handle most of the coverage of Utah's top receiver, David Reed .
