California Golden Bears vs Illinois Fighting Illini Point Spread Picks

REDBOX BOWL - California started the season hot, but is on a 3-5 SU/4-4 ATS run. The offense is one of the worst you'll see in a Bowl game, averaging 323 total yards and just 20 points per game. Four quarterbacks combined for 15 TDs, nine picks. And the Bears are not healthy for this bowl despite a month-long layoff. The secondary will be without safeties Ashtyn Davis and Trey Turner, plus they won't have DE Tevin Paul. On offense, Cal will be without WR Jordan Duncan, their second-leading receiver. Sophomore QB Chase Garbers will start and threw three picks in last year's Bowl loss to TCU as the offense scored seven points. Cal is 64-90 ATS as a favorite. Meanwhile, Illinois has a fine quarterback in Brandon Peters (17 TDs, 7 INTs). Coach Lovie Smith's team took a big step forward this season with noteworthy wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State and Purdue. And the program views this game as a major milestone for a rebuilding program playing in a bowl for the first time in 2014. Play Illinois for a Max Play.