Anyone tuning into Oregon's game at Cal knew two things: 1) the 89.5 point total might not be enough and 2) it might be 3 a.m. ET before the game was over.
Regarding both scenarios: yes, they happened.
Okay, sort of.
Technically Cals' 52-49 win over Oregon ended about five minutes shy of 3 a.m. on the East Coast And the under remained intact for regulation; the over was officially hit during the first overtime possession when Oregon receiver Jalen Brown caught a 20-yard pass from quarterback Justin Herbert.
Ironically, the game got off to as slow start. Oregon's first two possessions were punts and nearly two-thirds of the first quarter went by before the first score. That's hardly Pac-12-esque. But things picked up soon thereafter. Cal got out to a 21-0 lead before Oregon began chipping away in what became a furious second-half rally. A Matt Anderson kick for Cal sailed wide as time expired and the game was knotted at 42 heading into overtime.
The line, which opened at 87, bounced between 89 and 89.5 at many books, making it the highest point total on record since 1980. Here are some of the other highest closing totals via OddsShark.com:
1. Baylor-Texas Tech (2015): 88.5
2. Oklahoma State-Baylor (2012): 88
3. Texas Tech-Stephen F. Austin (2016): 87
4. Baylor-West Virginia (2012): 85
5. Arizona State-Cal (2016): 85
It's worth noting that three of those five games reached the over -- some easily, too. Friday night's result wasn't anywhere near the highest scoring game in college football, but it did come close to matching the FBS record for total plays in a game (209). Cal did, however, break its own record for plays in a single game. Also noteworthy: The entire game was played without a turnover... until a Herbert interception on the final play of the game.
If you liked offense, or not sleeping, Cal-Oregon was the perfect #Pac12AfterDark nightcap.
