If the California Golden Bears need to find anyone in their corner, they should look no further than SB Nation's Bill Connelly. He believes in them. He truly does.
Connelly released his picks for the NCAA Tournament and not only does he have Cal getting out of their play-in game against South Florida, he has them taking that official 12 seed and running with it by upsetting the fifth-seeded Temple Owls in the Round of 64. Connelly then has Cal losing to no. 4 seed Michigan, but for Cal to get two wins out of a tournament it snuck into would still be a feat in itself.
CBS Sportsline's Jimmy Carter also picks Cal to win noting that as good as the Bulls defense is, their offense just won't cut it.
This game is not going to be pretty, as California Golden Blogs explains. Not with how unattractive a game South Florida can play. They poke and prod on offense and play stifling defense on the other end. Their defense can carry them but their offense is like watching a team attempt to score on an SEC defense in football. They try but, well, yeah.
Cal snuck into the tourney but they could prove the naysayers wrong with two wins and they are in prime position to do so.