Arizona at Cal odds, picks and predictions
The Arizona Wildcats (9-2) and Cal Golden Bears (4-7) clash Friday. Tipoff from Haas Pavilion will be at 10:30 p.m. ET (Pac-12 Network). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the Arizona vs. Cal odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
Arizona, ranked No. 4 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll, has been upset twice in its last 3 games. The Wildcats were 2-point favorites in a Dec. 16 top-of-the-crop match-up against now-No. 1 Purdue. They lost that game 92-84. Two games later, in UA's most recent contest, the Wildcats lost to Florida Atlantic 96-95 in double overtime as 7-point favorites.
The Bears have been off since Dec. 20. They are 1-2 straight up and 1-2 against the spread (ATS) over their last 3 games. Cal has lost 13 straight to UA and 6 in a row to the Wildcats in Berkeley.
This contest marks the Pac-12 opener for both teams.
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Arizona at Cal odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:12 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Arizona -1050 (bet $1,050 to win $100) | Cal +660 (bet $100 to win $660)
- Against the spread (ATS): Arizona -13.5 (-110) | Cal +13.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 156.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Arizona at Cal picks and predictions
Prediction
Arizona 83, Cal 72
Moneyline
The winners here are the holders of all the prices between these 2 tags. MOVE ALONG.
Against the spread
Over its last 15 games against foes with losing records, Arizona is 6-9 ATS. Cal is 5-1 ATS as an underdog.
The Bears are good on the boards, and they fire a ton of 3s. Being at home where they own a 36% conversion rate on triples makes them enough of a live wire to be considered in this spot.
KenPom rates Cal as being quite unlucky so far, and its rim-and-3 rate is more than respectable and can keep it within a touchdown of Arizona for long stretches.
For Arizona, a lot of off days, wonky holiday schedules, and trips to Indianapolis, Phoenix and Las Vegas -- and now Berkeley -- may have the tanks a tad low.
This line opened at 16.5, so some value on Cal has withered away. BetMGM Sportsbook offers the Bears +14.5 (-110). Would be tempted to wait out even a half-point more, but bettors looking for action might consider a partial-unit CAL +14.5 (-110) play.
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Over/Under
Cal plays at a moderate pace, and Arizona goes fast. But the Wildcats are also top 5 in defensive efficiency, and it's reasonable to assume some holiday practice time has focused on that end after yielding 90-plus in the 2 recent losses.
The last 10 UA-Cal games have netted a 5-5 split in totals betting. AVOID.
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