The No. 8 USC Trojans (12-0, 2-0 Pac-12) travel to meet the California Golden Bears (9-5, 2-1) Thursday at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, Calif. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the USC vs. California odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
USC paddled Georgia Tech 67-53 on a neutral floor Dec. 18 prior to the holidays and a COVID pause. That’s about the only thing that could cool off the Trojans who won the first 12 games while covering seven of the outings.
Cal has one game under its belt since returning from the holidays, roughing up Arizona State at home by a 74-50 count as a 1.5-point favorite. Cal has won seven of its last eight games overall while going 8-1 ATS in its previous nine outings.
Rankings courtesy of the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports.
USC at California odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: USC -230 (bet $230 to win $100) | California +180 (bet $100 to win $180)
- Against the spread (ATS): USC -5.5 (-107) | California +5.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 127.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
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USC at California odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
USC 64, California 62
Money line
USC (-230) will cost you more than two times your potential return, and that’s a little on the expensive side considering the long layoff. There might be considerable rusty for the unbeaten Trojans, and a date with the Golden Bears is a tough assignment.
PASS.
Against the spread
CALIFORNIA +5.5 (-115) is worth a roll of the dice on its home court.
We’ve seen Cal play recently, and they looked really good in a rout of Arizona State. The Bears are 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS in three games since the Trojans have played last. Cal is in a nice rhythm, while USC will take a while to find its sea legs.
Over/Under
The UNDER 127.5 (-107) is an awfully low number, but that’s the lean here.
We have USC coming back after a considerable layoff, and Cal has hit the Under in five of the past six outings. The Bears rank 42nd in the nation with just 61.6 PPG allowed, and they’re allowing the opponent to hit just 39.1% from the field. Points will be at a premium Thursday.
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