Who will win the Causeway Classic: Sacramento State or UC Davis? Area experts weigh in
So is it the 68th Causeway Classic or the 69th? Maybe a bit of both?
We know this: The latest showdown between regional rivals is Saturday at 2 p.m. That’s when No. 2 Sacramento State hosts No. 24 UC Davis in perhaps the biggest, most meaningful rivalry rumble of them all. A Hornets victory ensures the program wins its third consecutive Big Sky Conference championship, secures an 11-0 record and a top seed in the FCS playoffs.
A UCD triumph earns the Aggies regional bragging rights, a 7-4 record and their third FCS playoff berth in five seasons.
UCD bills this as the 69th meeting because the teams have played 68 times before. Makes sense. Sacramento State calls it the 68th Causeway Classic, with the 1988 playoff meeting between the teams marking a postseason date, not a Classic encounter. That also makes sense. We won’t dare go with Causeway Classic 68.5.
How Sacramento State can win: Run the ball, pass the ball, defend the ball. OK, blah to all of that. The Hornets win if they lead the charge with runners behind their unsung line with a combination of power, burst and creativity. That’s Marcus Fulcher, Cameron Skattebo and Asher O’Hara. And they win if receivers Marshel Martin and Pierre Williams break free with Jake Dunniway or O’Hara passes, and if the defense can prevent Ulonzo Gilliam Jr. from running all over them.
How UC Davis can win: Keep the momentum rolling. Block, tackle, play inspired (that’s coach speak). The Aggies are on a five-game winning streak, explosive and balanced on offense, and have been largely unyielding on defense of late. If Miles Hastings maintains his hot touch at quarterback, if speeders Trent Tompkins, C.J. Hutton and Lan Larison get into open space and take off, and if Gilliam reaches the end zone for the first time in his Causeway experience, then UCD celebrates.
We polled local media covering the game and, due to ego, even quoted ourselves. Bob Dunning leads off and gets the most air time since he’s covered more of these games than anyone over 50 years on the keyboard grind.
▪ Bob Dunning, Davis Enterprise: “I’ve seen every Causeway Classic since they began playing it in 1954 and before anyone even called it the Causeway Classic, but this might be the best one of them all. UC Davis is on an amazing roll, averaging 52 points a game over the last five weeks, while the incredible Hornets are one step from perfection in the best FCS conference in the nation. Aggies, 27-24.”
▪ Mike Bush, Davis Enterprise: “UC Davis wants this game really bad; Sacramento is thinking of an unbeaten season. Throw defense out the door becuase this game is going to be a barn-burner. UCD 55, Sacramento State 47.
▪ Sara Hodges, CBS13: “The Hornets are going to win. They’re ready for this moment, though UC Davis has been on a roll. Sac’s defense will win the game, 24-21.”
▪ Steve McElroy, Sac State radio color voice, ESPN 1320: “It’s all analytics these days! Pie R Squared over Hornet Minus Aggie = Sac State 38, UCD 31.”
▪ Scott Marsh, radio play-by-play, Sactown Sports 1140: “The Aggies continue to put big points on the board and take the Causeway trophy and a berth in the FCS playoffs back to Davis with a 40-27 victory.”
▪ Doug Kelly, UC Davis radio color, Sactown Sports 1140: “Isaiah Gomez drills a 46-yard field goal at the gun. UC Davis 38, Sacramento State 35.”
▪ Michelle Dapper, KCRA 3: “A brawl for it all, but get the Stingers Up: Sac State by two scores, 35-21.”
▪ Kevin John, ABC10: “If you put (Sac State running back) Cameron Skattebo in a ring with a grizzly bear, say a prayer for the grizzly bear. Hornets win, 31-21.”
▪ Sean Cunningham, Fox40: “The improved play and good fortune from UC Davis in recent weeks won’t be enough to stop the offensive freight train that is the Sac State Hornets, who I expect will sting the Aggies, 45-17.”
▪ Jason Ross, Sac State radio play-by-play, ESPN 1320: “I will pick Sacramento State 34-26. It is hard for me to pick against Troy Taylor and the Hornet coaching staff.
▪ Cameron Salerno, Sacramento Bee: ”Sacramento State is ready to close the regular season with a statement win. Hornets win 42-21.”
▪ Joe Davidson, The Sacramento Bee: “The last time Sac State lost to UC Davis was in 2018, in Reno of all places, due to poor air quality in Davis. What’s that mean here? Nothing. It’s just interesting. The Hornets have never been better, ever, and take this one 35-30.”