Lies, damn lies and scheduling: Cal's cupcake-less schedule dampens mood of new coaching era

Win-loss records only tell half the story.

There is currently only one team in the Pac-12 conference with a losing record. After three weeks and games against two ranked opponents, Cal is where it probably should be—one win and two losses.

At the same time, there are currently two teams with a perfect 3-0 record heading into Week 4 of the 2013 season. One happens to be Oregon, which—as a national title contender—everyone probably expected after three weeks.

The other? Try Arizona. With the sixth-best rushing attack in the country, the Wildcats have run over the opposition. Their defense has been impenetrable, allowing just 8.7 points per game. Obviously, Arizona—after three weeks—has to be in the running for at least the Pac-12 South title, right?

Wrong.

But UofA is 3-0?

Correct.

What gives?

Scheduling.

The Wildcats have played probably the easiest nonconference slate in the country this side of the Mississippi River (I’m looking at you SEC). Arizona started the season by playing FCS (formerly Division I-AA) Northern Arizona. It then played—as the team’s biggest nonconference threat—perennial Mountain West doormat UNLV. The Rebels were picked to finish 10th in the Mountain West this year. Only New Mexico and Hawaii were picked below them.

And to round out the nonconference schedule, Arizona played Texas-San Antonio, a program that started play in 2011, transitioned to FBS status in 2012 and is somehow considered a full FBS member—in terms of scheduling—here in 2013. UTSA, however, is still not a full FBS member and is still in the transition phase from FCS to FBS. The Roadrunners are eligible for the Conference USA championship. They cannot, though, go to a bowl unless there are more spots in bowl games than bowl-eligible teams.

So, essentially Arizona played two FCS teams and a really bad FBS program to get to 3-0. Thankfully, no one is singing the Wildcats’ praises.

Yet, for fans of the Bears, there’s a sense of panic. After games against two of the country’s (not just the Big Ten’s) best defenses, there are already calls for a change at defensive coordinator.

After games against two of the best teams in the country, there is a renewed sense of cynicism.

But what if Cal got to warm-up for conference play with Arizona’s schedule? What if defensive coordinator Andy Buh could test his defense against the likes of the Lumberjacks, Rebels and Roadrunners? And what if Jared Goff got to play against the defenses of those teams?

Cal fans would be glowing because of a dream start. Goff would be hailed as the Second Coming of Aaron Rodgers, Sonny Dykes a genius and the Bears a Rose Bowl contender.

Or maybe not. Skepticism always seethes neath the surface of a Cal fan. But there would be a little more hope.

The difference between 1-2 and 3-0 is huge, especially if the quality of the opponents are not the same.

Dykes and Buh and the rest of the new Cal coaching staff were a little unlucky. The 2013 schedule was set in stone way before Jeff Tedford was even on the hot seat.

I’d rather, however, take a 1-2 record against quality opponents than a 3-0 record against also-rans.

Winning might be fun, but is winning against teams like UTSA something to brag about?

Arizona can have its 3-0 record. I’ll take this 1-2 record and see the Wildcats in November.

Let’s see what those records say then.