FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Stadium (75,028) -- Berkeley, California. Television:ABC. Home Record: Stanford 4-1, Cal 5-0. Away Record: Stanford 1-5, Cal 1-4. Neutral Record: Stanford 0-0, Cal 0-0. Conference Record: Stanford 4-4, Cal 4-3. Series Record: Stanford leads, 55-44-11.

GAME NOTES: The Stanford Cardinal will try to become bowl eligible in their regular season finale this weekend, as they invade Berkeley to tangle with the California Golden Bears in Pac-10 play. The Cardinal was once again denied its crucial sixth win of the season, falling to nationally-ranked USC, 45-23 last weekend. It was the second straight setback for Stanford, which dipped to 5-6 overall and an even 4-4 within the league. Still, with a win in its regular season finale this weekend, the Cardinal would earn bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2001 season. As for California, it is also riding a two- game losing streak following a 34-21 loss to nationally-ranked Oregon State last weekend. The loss dropped the team to 6-4 overall, although that record does include a perfect 5-0 mark at home. With a win this weekend, the Bears would post at least seven wins for the seventh year in a row, a feat that the program has never accomplished before. California and Stanford are meeting for the 111th time this weekend, with Stanford holding a 55-44-1 edge in the rivalry. The Bears however, have won five of the last six meetings in the series.

The Cardinal have been able to produce 27.2 ppg mainly because of the success on the ground, where the team is averaging 206.5 ypg this season. The club is churning out 5.0 yards per carry and has scored 25 of its 35 touchdowns via the run. Last weekend, Stanford posted 202 of its 367 total yards on the ground in a losing effort to USC. Toby Gerhart paced the team in defeat with 101 yards and a score on 23 carries, while Anthony Kimble rumbled for 38 yards and a score on seven totes. On the season, Gerhart heads the Cardinal with 1,033 yards and 14 touchdowns and Kimble complements him with 688 yards and six scores. With success running the ball, quarterback Tavita Pritchard has only needed to engineer the offense and he has done so by throwing for 1,327 yards and nine touchdowns. Last weekend, Pritchard threw for 111 yards and an interception on 9-of-22 tosses and he added 41 rushing yards on four carries in the loss to USC. Ryan Whalen has been his first option in the passing game and he paces Stanford with 36 receptions and 438 yards.

Stanford has had some struggles on defense at times this season and is giving up 26.5 ppg and 378.8 total ypg. The unit is permitting 140.7 ypg on the ground and 238.1 ypg through the air, but has made up for some of those yards by forcing 20 turnovers and recording 33 sacks. Against USC last weekend, the Cardinal was penetrated for 418 total yards, including 282 on the ground. The defense came up with one turnover and three sacks, but it also allowed three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Sean Wiser posted 12 stops to lead Stanford, while Bo McNally had nine tackles and a sack. On the year, McNally leads the team with 70 stops and a three interceptions.

The Golden Bears are gaining 148.6 rushing ypg and another 212.7 passing ypg and that has helped them to average a solid 31.5 ppg on the year. Last weekend, however, Cal was limited to just 232 total yards, including only 85 rushing, in a loss to Oregon State. Jahvid Best led the team in the setback with 116 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. It was another good effort from Best, who tops the club with 882 yards and seven scores in nine games. Although he wasn't a factor last weekend, Shane Vereen has provided a nice complement to Best, rushing for 574 yard and three touchdowns. Quarterback Kevin Riley was sacked five times last weekend and that certainly affected his performance which consisted of 117 yards and touchdown on 11-of-25 tosses. On the season, Riley has completed just 50.2 percent of his pass attempts, with 11 touchdowns against five interceptions. Nyan Boateng has been his primary target, as he leads the team with 25 catches and 403 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, Cal has been rather solid, holding opponents to 21.9 ppg and 315.0 total ypg. The unit is giving up 124.3 ypg on the ground and 190.7 ypg through the air, while picking of 18 passes and notching 26 sacks. Last weekend, the Bears held Oregon State to just 145 passing yards with an interception, but they ended up allowing 194 rushing yards in the setback. Still, the defense was only responsible for two touchdowns allowed, as the unit turned in another decent performance. Zack Follett guided the team in defeat with 10 tackles. On the year, Follett leads Cal with 13.5 TFLs and five sacks and he ranks third in stops with 64.

California has the better defense and a more balanced offense and those are some of the reasons why it should prevail over the Cardinal this weekend.