Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our California vs USC NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Los Angeles.
California vs USC Prediction
Looking to win big? The Golden Bears and Trojans face off at 9:30 ET on BTN. The Trojans are hosting the game at Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA. The odds for this non-conference game currently have USC as the -10 favorite, with the over/under line sitting at 153 points.
California vs. USC Matchup At A Glance
- Sport: NCAAB
- Teams: California Golden Bears at USC Trojans
- Where: Los Angeles at Galen Center
- Date: Sunday, November 17th
- Betting Odds USC -10, CAH +367 | USC -492 O/U 153
Golden Bears Preview: Will California Shock Everyone at Galen Center?
California Golden Bears Recent Game/Games
California dropped to 0-2 on the season after an 85-69 road loss to Vanderbilt on Wednesday. The Bears entered the game as +7.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game ended at 154, just under the O/U line of 156.
Cal found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 49-31 at halftime. While they did manage to outscore Vanderbilt 38-36 in the second half, it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.
Golden Bears Offense Breakdown
California's offense put up 69 points in their last game, shooting 43.6% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range. They connected on 76.2% of their free throws, going 16-for-21 from the line. The Golden Bears managed just 6 assists and 8 offensive rebounds, with an effective field goal percentage of 47.3%.
Jason Edwards led the way with 18 points in 19 minutes, shooting 61.5% overall and 50% from deep. Andrej Stojakovic added 17 points and 6 rebounds, while Devin McGlockton contributed 16 points, hitting 63.6% of his shots. Tyler Tanner was efficient, scoring 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
Golden Bears Team Defense
California struggled defensively, giving up 85 points on 52% shooting. They allowed 35 made field goals on 67 attempts.
Inside the arc, the Golden Bears gave up 28 two-pointers on 42 attempts, a 66% success rate for their opponent.
Trojans Preview: Will USC Make it Happen at Home?
USC Trojans Recent Game/Games
USC picked up a 98-95 win over UT Arlington on Wednesday, November 13th. The Trojans were -15.5 favorites but didn’t cover the spread. The game was played at home.
USC led 51-42 at halftime but allowed 53 points in the 2nd half while scoring 47. The total points for the game reached 193, surpassing the O/U line of 155.5.
Trojans Offense Breakdown
USC's offense was firing on all cylinders, putting up 98 points with a 55.6% field goal percentage and an effective field goal percentage of 60.3%. They shot 64.4% from two-point range and 33.3% from beyond the arc, while hitting 81.5% of their free throws. The Trojans dished out 22 assists in the game.
Jaden Wells led the way with 27 points, hitting 7 of 10 from three-point range. Desmond Claude added 26 points and 8 assists, shooting 75% from the field. Josh Cohen and Jaxon Ellingsworth each contributed 19 points, with Ellingsworth knocking down 4 of 5 threes.
Trojans Team Defense
USC's defense struggled in their last game, giving up 95 points on 55% shooting from the field. They allowed the opposing team to hit 64% of their two-point attempts, with 29 makes on 45 tries.
From beyond the arc, USC's opponents shot 33%, going 6/18. The Trojans also sent them to the line 27 times, where they converted 22 free throws, shooting 81%. USC limited offensive rebounds, giving up just 3.
Golden Bears vs Trojans Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis
- In their last five games away from home, the Golden Bears have a straight up record of 1-4 while going 2-3 vs the spread. The team's offense averaged 70 points per game in these contests.
- When looking at their past five home matchups, USC has an ATS record of 4-1 while averaging 69 per game. The team went 3-2 overall in these games.
- In their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Golden Bears have a straight up record of 3-7 and an ATS mark of 4-5-1.
- In their last three contests as the favorite, USC has a poor record vs the spread going 1-2. But, they still put together a straight up mark of 3-0.
California vs USC Prediction & Free Pick
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Prediction: California +10 Be sure to check out our other NCAA Basketball betting previews for this week. KnupSports.com also updates their sports betting picks page daily with plays across all sports.