California (4-4, 0-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) at Wake Forest (4-4, 2-2), Friday at 8 p.m. EST (ACC Network)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Cal by 7.

Series record: First meeting.

Both teams are chasing bowl eligibility as they enter the final month of the regular season. Wake Forest is also trying to improve its home record to 1-4, while Cal looks for its first ACC win.

Cal’s defense against Wake Forest’s offense. The Bears’ defense has been a strength, with Cal tied for 13th nationally in scoring defense (17.3) and 25th in total defense (320.6 yards). The Demon Deacons rank 11th in the league in scoring (27.1), but have proven capable of moving downfield with QB Hank Bachmeier (244.8 yards per game) and on the field with RB Demond Claiborne ( eight rushing touchdowns), although Claiborne is questionable due to injury.

Cal: QB Fernando Mendoza. The quarterback is coming off a big game in the win against Oregon State, throwing for 364 yards and two touchdowns while completing 75% of his passes.

Wake Forest: DB Nick Andersen. Andersen leads the ACC with 10.3 tackles per game. That makes him one of eight players in the Bowl Subdivision ranks averaging at least 10 tackles per game, four of them in Power Four conferences.

This is Cal’s third trip across the country to play in the league this year, following a loss at Florida State on Sept. 21 and a loss at No. 23 Pittsburgh on Oct. 12. …The Bears’ four losses came by a combined nine points. …Wake Forest won its home opener against North Carolina A&T, but blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead against Virginia the following week to begin its home losing streak. … The Demon Deacons are 3-0 on the road this year. … California has five giveaways this season after losing 28 last year. … The Demon Deacons come off an open date, which followed a win at Stanford.

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