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The Stanford Cardinal (3-7. 2-5 ACC) and Cal Golden Bears (5-5, 1-5) meet Saturday. Kickoff from California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network). Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s college football odds around the Stanford vs. Cal odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Cardinal no longer have a shot at a bowl game, but they’re not giving up. Stanford kept fighting last week, however, stunning Louisville in Palo Alto 38-35 as a 21-point underdog as the Over (57.5) cashed. That halted a 6-game losing streak.
The Golden Bears were tripped up 33-25 by Syracuse last weekend as a 10-point favorite, halting a modest 2-game win and cover streak. Cal is just 2-5 SU in the past 7 outings, but it is 4-2 ATS in the past 6 outings. It needs a victory over rival Stanford or at first-place SMU in the next 2 weeks to qualify for a bowl.
Cal has won 3 straight meetings in ‘The Big Game’ against Stanford. This is the 127th meeting in the series, with the Cardinal leading the all-time series 60-47-10. However, Cal won the last meeting at home, 27-20, Nov. 19, 2022, while posting a 27-15 win at Stanford last season, too.
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Stanford at Cal odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds. Lines last updated at 10:20 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Stanford +480 (bet $100 to win $480) | Cal -670 (bet $670 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Stanford +14.5 (-110) | Cal -14.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 53.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Stanford at Cal picks and predictions
Prediction
Cal 34, Stanford 20
Moneyline
Cal (-670) will set you back nearly 7 times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough reward. Even as part of a multi-leg parlay it makes no sense including the Golden Bears, as they would suck all of the value out of your ticket.
PASS.
Against the spread
Back STANFORD +14.5 (-110) in this rivalry game, and hope it can carry over momentum from last weekend’s impressive showing against Louisville.
The Cardinal offense has come together in recent weeks. While in this day and age of the transfer portal, NIL money, etc., it might not mean as much at some schools, Stanford is building the framework for 2025 with this group, as it isn’t likely to be involved in the portal, NIL, etc. as much. This team is improving, playing hard, and it would love to spoil the season of rival Cal -14.5 (-110).
It’s likely Cal ends up getting it done, but The Tree is going to make it sweat in Berkeley.
Over/Under
OVER 53.5 (-110) is the lean in The Big Game, but go super lightly.
The Over is 3-0-1 in the past 4 games for Cal, while the Over has hit in the past 2 outings for Stanford.
The series trends are all over in this series, going 4-4 in the past 8 meetings, while cashing at a 2-2 pace in the past 4 battles in Berkeley, too.
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