Don’t miss out on the NCAA showdown between the Trojans and Golden Bears. The game is starting at 11:00 ET on PACN, and it’s hosted by the Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, CA. Get ready to place your bets! The over/under for this game is set at 148.5 points, and California is favored by -2.5 vs. USC in a Pac-12 conference matchup.

USC TROJANS VS CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS BETTING PICK

The Pick: California Golden Bears -2.5

This game will be played at Haas Pavilion at 11:00 ET on Wednesday, February 7th.

WHY BET THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-69 in favor of the Golden Bears.
  • Not only will California pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -2.5.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 148.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 145 points.

Do the Trojans Stand a Chance in Berkeley?

USC is 9-13 overall and 3-8 in Pac-12 play. They are 2-7 on the road this season, and they have lost five straight road games. The Trojans’ average scoring margin on the road is -5.4 points per game, compared to +4.8 at home.

So far, USC has been the underdog in seven games, and they have yet to win in that situation. They are 9-6 when favored. In their last game, the Trojans defeated Oregon State, 82-54. Over their last 10 road games, they have gone 2-8.

As the underdog, USC has struggled against the spread this season, going just 2-5. However, their road ATS record is a bit better at 4-5. Over their last 10 games as the underdog, the Trojans have gone just 3-7 vs. the spread.

So far this season, the over/under record in USC games is 13-8-1. Today’s over/under line of 148.5 is slightly higher than the average OU line in their games this year (147.4). Over their last three games, the average scoring total is 132 points, which is 16.5 points lower than today’s over/under line.

In their latest game, USC offense put up 82 points against Oregon State. They recorded an overall field goal percentage of 49.2% and made 5 threes. Boogie Ellis is the current leading scorer for the team, with an average of 17.3 as they approach today’s matchup. In addition, Isaiah Collier brings a PPG average of 15.4 into the game.

So far, the Trojans’ defense is ranked 214th in the country at 73.9 points per contest. In terms of field goal percentage allowed, USC’s defense has allowed opponents to shoot 42.9% from the field, including a three-point shooting percentage allowed of 35.9% this season.

Are California Ready for a Home Win?

After winning their last game against Arizona State by a score of 81-66, California has a 9-13 record. So far, they have gone 5-6 in conference games compared to a 4-7 non-conference record. At home, the Golden Bears have gone 7-6, and they have a 2-7 record on the road.

As the favorite, California has gone 4-4 this season. They have been the underdog in 14 of their 22 games, going 5-9 in those matchups. Currently, they are on a two-game winning streak at home.

As the favorite, California has struggled against the spread this season, going just 1-6-1. Their overall ATS record is 11-10-1. In their last 10 games as the favorite, the Golden Bears are just 2-7-1 vs. the spread.

Today’s over/under line of 148.5 is slightly lower than the average over/under line in California’s games this season (146.8). So far, 10 of their games have finished with more points than today’s line. In their last three games, the over/under record is 0-3 and their overall over/under record this season is 13-9.

California’s offense is coming off a strong performance, scoring 81 points against Arizona State. They had an overall field goal percentage of 50% and made 16/19 free throws. The California offense has been looking to get up shots from outside so far this season, averaging 25.5 three-point attempts per contest. Overall, they have connected on 34% of their looks from outside this season.

At this time, the Golden Bears’ defense is positioned 267th in the country, permitting 76.5 points per game. The California defense is coming off a game in which they gave up a total of 66 points and allowed Arizona State to connect on 8 threes.