Another Pac-12 conference duel in the NCAAB is on the schedule for Thursday, February 2, so make sure you don’t miss out on the best Golden Bears vs. Buffaloes betting pick and odds.

California is desperate to avoid the sixth consecutive loss when they visit Colorado at CU Events Center. The Buffaloes are 15-point favorites on BetDSI Sportsbook, while the total is set at 130.5 points. These Pac-12 foes have met once this season; the Golden Bears won 80-76 in California.

Golden Bears’ offense was toothless against Stanford

The California Golden Bears (3-18, 8-13-0 ATS) won three of four games in late December and early January but returned to losing way since and now are on a five-game losing skid. The Golden Bears lost both games at home against Oregon and Oregon State and then scored just 46 points in a massive 75-46 defeat to the Stanford Cardinal on the road. Interestingly, it wasn’t a season-low in points for the Golden Bears, who scored 43 in a loss to Utah earlier in the campaign. California was miserable from the field (30.4%) and shot 23.8% from beyond the arc, while the Cardinal were better in both rebounds (47-30) and assists (16-5).

Sophomore forward Sam Alajiki was the only Golden Bear in double figures in this blowout loss. He recorded a double-double of 13 points and a career-high 11 rebounds, which was the first double-double of his career. California’s starters scored just 25 points opposite Stanford’s 48.

G Jalen Celestine (ACL) and G Jarred Hyder (back) are out indefinitely. G Devin Askew (undisclosed) is questionable to face Colorado on Thursday.

Buffaloes returned from Oregon with a couple of losses

The Colorado Buffaloes (12-11, 8-14-1 ATS) are going through their worst period of the season after losing five of the previous six games. The Buffaloes managed to snap a three-game losing skid with a tight home victory over Washington State but then lost both games in Oregon against the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers. Colorado scored a season-low 52 points in a 60-52 defeat to the Beavers as they shot 35.0% from the floor and made only three free throws opposite Oregon State’s 17.

Junior forward Tristan da Silva led the Buffaloes with a double-double of a game-high 22 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. It was da Silva’s second double-double of his career, but that didn’t help his team to avoid a loss. J’Vonne Hadley added 11 points and seven boards.

G Javon Ruffin has missed the last four games with a knee injury, and it is unclear if he will play Thursday versus California.

Trends:

California:

  • 1-4 ATS in the last five games
  • 2-4 ATS in the last six games against the Pac-12 conference rivals

Colorado:

  • 4-1 ATS in the last five games played in February

California Golden Bears vs. Colorado Buffaloes Pick

California is still without a road win this year and I don’t think they will get one here because Colorado will be looking for revenge after the Golden Bears beat the Buffaloes on the first day of 2023. That loss snapped Colorado’s brightest period of the campaign as they were on a five-game winning streak, so I expect the Buffaloes to defeat the Golden Bears with a big margin here. Colorado has a better offense that averages 71.2 points per game, while California scores 60.2 ppg, one of the weakest offenses in college basketball.

Pick: Take the Buffaloes at -13.5 (-130)

The Total

The Golden Bears do have a very weak and inefficient offense, but they did score 80 against Colorado a month ago. I don’t think that’s going to happen again on Thursday, but I am surely expecting the visitors to score around 60. Colorado’s offense is not great lately, which is the main reason for the Buffaloes’ struggles. However, I am backing the hosts to score at least 70 points against California. The total has gone Over in five of Colorado’s last seven games against California.

Pick: Go Over 129.5 points (-120)