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The Cal Golden Bears (2-1) take on the USC Trojans (3-0) Sunday evening. Tip-off from the Galen Center is set for 9:30 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s college basketball odds around the Cal vs. USC odds, and make our expert college basketball picks and predictions.
Cal stepped into a bear trap in an 85-69 defeat at the Vanderbilt Commodores Wednesday. They failed to cover as 7.5-point dogs in the affair. G Andrej Stojakovic had 17 points and 6 boards. If that name looks familiar, that’s because he’s the son of Sacramento Kings legend Peja Stojakovic.
USC was pushed to its limits in its last 2 games. They failed to cover as 24-point and 16-point favorites in home wins over the Idaho State Bengals (75-69) and UT-Arlington Mavericks (98-95). G Desmond Claude had 26 points, 8 assists and 5 boards Wednesday against UTA.
– Rankings: USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll
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Cal at USC odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college basketball odds Lines last updated at 12:36 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cal +280 (bet $100 to win $280) | USC -375 (bet $375 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Cal +8.5 (-110) | USC -8.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 152.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Cal at USC picks and predictions
Prediction
USC 85, Cal 81
Moneyline
The way that USC has played down to its opponents, I would be scared to risk -150 on them. So -375 is not even a question. I look for Stojakovic to put on a show in SoCal. He hasn’t shot for a great percentage from beyond the arc, but he has 2 triples in each of the last 2 games. To offer up plus-money for him to do it here feels really in the wheelhouse. He’s a 6-foot-7 sophomore with the pedigree from downtown. This could be the spot he introduces himself.
Take ANDREJ STOJAKOVIC OVER 1.5 THREE-POINTERS (+110).
Against the spread
It’s a little off-putting that they couldn’t hang with Vandy, but I read more into USC unable to put lesser teams away. This 8.5-point cushion is more than enough. Cal won the last meeting 83-77 in OT last February.
Take CAL +8.5 (-110).
Over/Under
Both teams are 2-1 O/U. USC allowed UT-Arlington to shoot 16-for-24 (66%) from downtown in its last game. And that supports my Stojakovic take and tells you all you need to know about this OVER 152.5 (-115) hitting.
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