The Texas Southern Tigers are set to meet the California Golden Bears in Week 2 of the 2025 regular season. This Saturday night game will be held at the California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley. Fans can catch the action on ACC at 6:00 PM.
Texas Southern enters this game with a 0-1 record for the season, still searching for their first win. Their previous outing saw them fall to Rice Owls with a substantial deficit of 69-7. The Tigers will be looking to improve on both sides of the ball in this challenging road game.
Meanwhile, the California Golden Bears come in with momentum, having secured a 34-15 victory against the Oregon State Beavers in Week 1. This will be their first home game of the season, and they will aim to continue their winning start. The odds have California favored with a spread of -45.5, reflecting the expectations for this matchup.
California vs Texas Southern At a Glance
- Game Location: California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, CA
- Game Time: Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 6:00 PM
- Broadcast Channel: ACC
- California Record: 1-0 this season
- Texas Southern Record: 0-1 last season
- Spread Odds: California -45.5 (-110), Texas Southern +45.5 (-110)
The California Golden Bears Ready for Action
Offensive Insights
The California Golden Bears have started their 2025 season with an impressive performance, averaging 34 points per game, ranking them 25th nationally. Their passing game has been solid with an average of 234 yards, placing them 59th in the country. The rushing attack has also been effective, contributing 129 yards per game, though it ranks a modest 75th.
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, the quarterback, has been pivotal in leading the offense, with a 234-yard passing performance in their recent game. He ranks 52nd in the league for passing yards, with 3 passing touchdowns to his name. The Golden Bears’ receiving corps, led by Trond Grizzell, has also shown potential with Grizzell recording 83 receiving yards and a touchdown in their first game.
Defensive Standouts
The California defense has been a standout unit, allowing just 15 points in their opening game, which ranks them 11th nationally. They’ve been particularly effective at pressuring the quarterback, recording one sack, and their ability to generate turnovers is evident with an interception and fumble recovery each, ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively.
California’s defensive strategy has been instrumental in their early success, as evident from their ability to limit Oregon State to 70 rushing yards. Their defensive prowess was further highlighted by forcing two fumbles, recovering one of them. This strategic approach has set a strong foundation for the rest of their season.
Key Players to Watch
Brandon High Jr. led the rushing attack with 41 yards and a touchdown, while Kendrick Raphael and LJ Johnson Jr. added depth to the backfield. High Jr.’s performance places him at 248th in the league for rushing yards, but his contribution was crucial for the Golden Bears’ balanced offense.
In the receiving department, alongside Grizzell, Mason Mini at tight end has been productive with 33 receiving yards and a touchdown. The involvement of multiple receivers like Mark Hamper and Jacob De Jesus adds a layer of unpredictability to California’s passing game.
Upcoming Schedule
Looking ahead, the Golden Bears have a series of challenging games on their schedule. They will host the Texas Southern Tigers at California Memorial Stadium, followed by a home game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Their first away game will be against the San Diego State Aztecs, a matchup that will test their road game resilience.
Later in the season, California will welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels before traveling to face the Virginia Tech Hokies. These games will be critical in determining their standing in the league and could potentially shape their postseason aspirations.
California Golden Bears Betting Trends
- SU Last 3: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU Last 5: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU Last 10: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU All Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU as Favorite: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU in Night Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- SU in Away Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS Last 3: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS Last 5: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS Last 10: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS All Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS as Favorite: 1-0 (100.0%)
- ATS in Away Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U Last 3: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U Last 5: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U Last 10: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U All Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U as Favorite: 1-0 (100.0%)
- O/U in Away Games: 1-0 (100.0%)
Can Texas Southern Tigers Roar Back This Week?
Offensive Struggles
In their last outing, the Texas Southern Tigers struggled offensively, managing only 7 points against the Rice Owls. Their passing game was notably weak, with only 49 yards, ranking them 206th. The rushing attack did not fare much better, with just 40 yards, placing them 202nd.
First downs were hard to come by, as the Tigers only achieved 9 against Rice. This performance highlights their need to improve in converting drives into scoring opportunities. Moving forward, it will be crucial for them to find ways to ignite their offensive lineup.
Defensive Performance
Defensively, the Tigers conceded 69 points, ranking them 28th in points against. Despite this, they did manage an interception, showing some capability in pass defense. However, they failed to register a single sack or recover any fumbles, indicating areas that require significant improvement.
The Tigers’ defense will need to step up to provide more pressure on the opposing quarterback. Improving their ability to disrupt plays could be a key factor in changing the tide of their upcoming games.
Key Players to Watch
Quarterback Jordon Davis, with a single game under his belt, threw for 42 yards and 1 touchdown, but also had an interception. His development and ability to lead the offense will be vital for the Tigers. Running back Danny Green Jr. recorded 18 rushing yards and will need to find more lanes to be effective.
On the receiving end, Donald McKinney and Trenton Leary each secured 2 receptions. Tight end Kordell Rodgers showed potential with 3 receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown, highlighting him as a key target.
Special Teams Overview
Gustavo Romero, the team’s kicker, successfully converted an extra point but did not attempt any field goals. Special teams could be a game-changer if Romero gets more opportunities to score.
Improving their special teams’ efficiency could provide the Tigers with the edge they need in closely contested games. Capitalizing on field position and scoring from longer distances will be critical.
Betting Trends
- Texas Southern has struggled offensively, averaging only 7 points per game.
- The Tigers’ defense ranks 28th in points against, conceding 69 points in their last game.
- They have not recorded any sacks this season, impacting their defensive pressure.
- Texas Southern’s passing yards rank 206th, highlighting a need for an improved air attack.
California vs Texas Southern Prediction: California -45.5
The California Golden Bears are entering this game as a heavy favorite, with a spread of -45.5. With their offensive capability shown by a ranking of 25th in points scored this season, they are likely to exploit the Texas Southern Tigers’ struggling defense. California’s strong defensive performance, allowing only 15 points last game, further solidifies their potential to cover the spread.
Texas Southern, on the other hand, is coming off a tough loss where they managed to score only 7 points while conceding 69. Their offensive struggles are significant, ranking very low in passing and rushing yards from last season, and they are expected to face a similar challenge against California’s robust defense. This mismatch in both offensive and defensive capabilities makes the -45.5 spread favorable for California.
Given California’s strong start to the season and Texas Southern’s historical performance issues, the Golden Bears are projected to win decisively. The combination of California’s top-tier offense and defense against Texas Southern’s vulnerabilities makes covering the spread achievable.
Predicting a dominant performance by the Golden Bears, the projected final score is California 52, Texas Southern 3. This margin comfortably covers the spread, highlighting California’s superiority on both ends of the field.
- California vs Texas Southern Prediction: California -45.5
- California vs Texas Southern Score: California 52 – Texas Southern 3
