WATCH: Highlights from Texas’ 62-45 win over California

Watch as the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team defeat the California Golden Bears in the 2K Empire Classic

Last night, the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team suffered their first loss of the season in an 82-66 game against Georgetown. This was also their first matchup in the 2K Empire Classic.

Today, the Longhorns got back into the win column by defeating the California Golden Bears by a score of 62-45. Texas is now 5-1 on the season.

Four different Longhorns score in double-figures against California. Junior guard Matt Coleman III led the Longhorns with 14 points. Both guard Jase Fabres and forward Jericho Sims added 12 points each while guard Courtney Ramey added 10.

Watch some of the highlights of the Texas win here!

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Duke-California odds: Blue Devils big favorites at MSG

Previewing Thursday’s Duke Blue Devils vs. California Golden Bears sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball matchup analysis

The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils (4-0) and California Bears (4-0) hook up in the 2K Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. We analyze the Duke-California odds and betting lines, while providing college basketball betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Duke vs. California: Three things you need to know

1. The Blue Devils are back at Madison Square Garden for the second time already this season, as they topped Kansas 68-66 Nov. 5 to win outright as a 2.5-point underdog.

2. Duke has posted a 3-1 ATS mark, but it failed to cover last time out against Georgia State in a 74-63 win at Cameron Indoor Stadium Nov. 15.

3. Cal is also 3-1 ATS in its four outings, and it also failed to cover last time out, narrowly escaping defeat as 15-point favorites against Prairie View A&M, 54-50.


Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!


Duke vs. California: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:20 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Duke 88, California 66

Moneyline (ML)

There was no moneyline listed at the time of publishing.

Against the Spread (ATS)

DUKE (-19.5, -110) is much deeper than California (+19.5, -110) as it has four players averaging double-digit points. G Tre Jones leads the way with 17.0 PPG and 5.8 APG, while C Vernon Carey Jr. has posted 14.8 PPG, newcomer G Cassius Stanley has 13.0 PPG and 1.8 SPG and F Matthew Hurt has racked up 10.8 PPG.

Cal has G Matt Bradley going for 20.0 PPG, but then it is a steep drop-off after that, with just two others in double-digits – and just barely. Bradley has averaged 3.0 turnovers per game, too, and that’s an area Cal has had some trouble. The Bears have 59 turnovers to 46 assists, including a negative ratio for Bradley. That might fly against the Prairie Views of the world, but not against Duke.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER (136.5, –106) is the play of the night in this one, even though the under is 5-2 in Duke’s past seven neutral-site games and 5-1 in Cal’s past six neutral-site battles. The Blue Devils are rolling up 84.0 PPG in four contests, while Cal is averaging 75.5 PPG in its four games. This won should be well in excess of the total.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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