Independence Bowl: Cal vs. Texas Tech odds, picks and predictions
The Cal Golden Bears (6-6) meet the Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-6) in Saturday night's Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Start time at Independence Stadium is scheduled for 9:15 p.m. ET (ESPN). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Cal vs. Texas Tech odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
California lost 4 straight games from Oct. 7-Nov. 4, but the Golden Bears rallied to go 3-0 straight up and 3-0 against the spread over their last 3 games. Cal averaged 34 points per game over those last 3 contests.
Texas Tech had a 3-game win streak snapped in its last game, when Texas dropped half-a-hundred on the Red Raiders (14-point-underdog TTU lost to the Longhorns 57-7).
Cal and TTU are meeting for just the 2nd time on the gridiron. The Raiders dealt the Bears a 45-31 loss in the 2004 Holiday Bowl.
Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll powered by Paste BN Sports
Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Cal vs. Texas Tech odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:50 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Cal +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Texas Tech -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cal +3.5 (-110) | Texas Tech -3.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 58 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Cal vs. Texas Tech picks and predictions
Prediction
Cal 28, Texas Tech 27
Moneyline
This price has crept up on the Cal side, to the point the Bears are the value play here.
Momentum-wise, gears have been in motion that favor the California offense and fade the Texas Tech defense. Recent games show a better foot forward for the Cal side.
The Golden Bears can run the football, and TTU ranks 97th in the nation in stopping the ground game (167.8 yards per game). The Raiders' ATS losses this year are heavily tilted toward toward opponents who can stay ahead of the chains by moving the ball with the rush.
Both sides are plenty banged up by injuries, opt-outs and portal defections. The talent-composite base for Cal is surprisingly similar to that of the Raiders. And this figures as a game to be played out my the middle 2/3s of each roster.
Peg the leverage here as being longer than that against the spread. BACK THE GOLDEN BEARS (+145).
Against the spread
Better value on the ML: PASS.
Over/Under
The public looks to be dialed in here. No room for action: PASS.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from Paste BN Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / Recruiting / Transfer portal / College Football Playoffs / College Sports Wire