The California Golden Bears (5-5, 2-5, Pac-12 North) and Stanford Cardinal (4-6, 3-5) battle in the ‘Big Game.’ Each side can either knock the other from bowl contention or seriously hamper their rival’s efforts. We analyze the California-Stanford odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
California at Stanford: Three things you need to know
1. Cal RB Christopher Brown Jr., the team’s leader on the ground, is questionable due to a head injury. He joins starting QB Chase Garbers (shoulder) on the injury report. The starter was knocked from last week’s game after aggravating his shoulder injury. If Garbers cannot go, QB Devon Modster will take back over.
2. Whomever starts for Cal will see a banged-up secondary for the Cardinal. CBs Treyjohn Butler (undisclosed) and Obi Eboh (undisclosed) are questionable, while CB Paulson Adebo (undisclosed) and S Malik Antoine (undisclosed) are out.
3. Even with a healthy secondary, Stanford’s Achilles’ heel has been its pass coverage, as the Cardinal are 119th in the nation with 281.4 passing yards allowed.
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California at Stanford: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Prediction
California 34, Stanford 23
Moneyline (ML)
CALIFORNIA (+105) is worth a look as a small road underdog. With or without Brown and/or Garbers, the Golden Bears showed their depth last week with RB DeShawn Collins stepping in for a career-high 103 rushing yards. Modster has plenty of experience running the offense, too, and he might be effective with Stanford (-129) so banged up defensively.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on California to win would return a profit of $10.50.
Against the Spread (ATS)
CALIFORNIA (+2.5, -115) is a decent play if you feel the game will be decided by less than two points. Hey, it worked for me in the NC State-Georgia Tech game Thursday night, as I cashed with the Wolfpack (+2.5) whereas I would’ve lost on the moneyline. That’s a rarity, though. If you’re feeling the Bears, the better value is the ML.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER (39.5, -110) is the play. Sure, it’s a rivalry game, and there will be a lot of hitting early on, but I am not sure Stanford has the horses to keep Cal from moving all over the field. The defense hasn’t been great even when healthy. It won’t take much to hit the Over in this one, and it has cashed three of the past four for the Cardinal, and nine of the past 13 inside the conference. For Cal, it’s a 2-0 over run after a spate of Unders in October.
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