OPINION: Intensity & Urgency needed for Arizona Football to beat Cal

As Arizona Football prepares for Cal this weekend to open Pac-12 play, intensity and urgency will be needed from the Wildcats to beat the Golden Bears. 

Through three games, Arizona Football has played quite well, which is a stark contrast to the 2020 or 2021 season. Beyond that, the Wildcats have the No. 16 overall strength of schedule according to Sports Illustrated.

And for the first time since 2019, Arizona is 2-1! Now, while the Wildcats enter this weekend a slight underdog to the Cal Golden Bears, Arizona is still in perfect striking distance to score the upset.

The Wildcats have the offensive firepower, led by sophomore quarterback Jayden de Laura and a myriad of offensive weapons which includes Jacob Cowing, Tetairoa McMillan, Michael Wiley, DJ Williams, Jonah Coleman, and Dorian Singer among others.

As a group, they are averaging 28.7 points per game and roughly 390.3 yards per game. However, against a formidable Cal defense, the Wildcats should be tested.

On defense, Arizona has had its moments; however, this group still lacks good depth. And even with the stellar play of Jerry Roberts, Jalen Harris, Hunter Echols, and Jaxen Turner, overall, they have struggled to find any consistency.

Against Cal, the Wildcats should have a great opportunity, as the Golden Bears’ offense is not elite by any means, and they tend to struggle in protecting quarterback Jack Plummer.

While Arizona Football may be a slight underdog on Saturday, the Wildcats have a chance to win, but they need to bring the intensity and urgency.

All last week, it was a steady build-up for the Cats as they played a tremendous FCS program in North Dakota State. The Bison were slight favorites in that game, and with several college football pundits picking NDSU, Arizona brought the intensity and focus, preventing a loss to an FCS program for the second-straight year.

This weekend, the stakes are just as high in my opinion. Arizona is a slight underdog; however, winning is very much a possibility, and for a team one year removed from a 1-11 season, you take advantage of every opportunity you have.

Even at 2-1 through three games, Arizona is still very much a work in progress, but if this team wants to take that next step, they need to be just as focused and ready this week. Cal may not be an elite team in the Pac-12, but they are still capable of beating the Wildcats, and the intensity should be there again if the Cats are to come away victorious.

Still looking to lock in your bets ahead of the Wildcats’ weekend action against Cal? Check out WynnBet or FanDuel for more betting options!