Cal Poly Mustangs vs
California Golden BearsPredictions & Preview

Cal Poly Shows Promise in Season Opener Loss, Faces California as Underdogs for Next Game.

Cal Poly suffered a loss in their season opener against San Francisco, but showed promise against a strong opponent. They now face Cal in their next game, hoping to improve on their previous season of only four wins. On the other hand, California started their season with a win in their first game in the ACC, showcasing many new players. The upcoming game between Cal Poly and California has California as the favorite with a -15 point spread that has not changed. Stay tuned for updated odds as the game approaches.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Mustangs +940 | Golden Bears -1800
• Spread: Mustangs +15 (-110) | Golden Bears -15 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 152 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that California will win straight-up is 95%.

Cal Poly vs California Stats

Cal Poly Mustangs

In their season opener, Cal Poly faced an 86-78 loss to San Francisco but showed promise with their surprising offensive performance, keeping the game close as massive underdogs. Jarred Hyder led the team with 19 points, while Owen Koonce contributed 18 points. Cal Poly covered the large 21-point spread as underdogs and the game went Over. Hyder is the leading returning scorer for the team, averaging 10.3 ppg last season. Koonce, a senior, made an impact in his first game for a major program since 2020-2021. Max Rinker had seven points and led the team in rebounds. Cal Poly is ranked 171 in offense, scoring an average of 78.00 points per game, and #263 in defense, allowing 86.00 points per game. They are currently 0-1 this season with a power ranking of 293. Offensively, they shoot 40.63% from the field and 35.29% from three-point range. Defensively, they allow opponents to shoot 45.16% from the field and 25.00% from three-point range. They average 36.00 rebounds per game and 17.00 assists.

California Golden Bears Analysis

In their season opener, the California Golden Bears defeated Cal State Bakersfield 86-73 at home, outscoring them by 18 points in the first half. Despite shooting 42.1% from the field and 30.4% from beyond the arc, the Golden Bears scored 21 more points from free throws. Five players, including four starters, scored in double figures, led by Jovan Blacksher Jr. with 17 points. Andrej Stojakovic contributed 16 points, hitting all nine of his free throws. Cal Poly has won 3 of their last 3 matchups against California. The Golden Bears have a power ranking of 275, ranking #119 in offense and #183 in defense. They average 86.00 points per game and allow 73.00 points per game, shooting 42.11% from the field and 30.43% from three-point range. They average 41.00 rebounds per game and allow their opponents to shoot 43.55% from the field and 56.25% from three-point range.

Cal Poly Shows Resilience in Narrow Defeat as Cal Emerges Victorious at Home

In the season openers, Cal Poly faced a narrow defeat on the road, while Cal emerged victorious at home. Despite a challenging season last year with only four wins, Cal Poly entered this season with uncertainties, however, their loss to USF was by a relatively small margin of eight points, a positive sign for their competitiveness. Conversely, Cal struggled with their shooting accuracy in the opener but showcased a strong start, resulting in a significant lead in free throw points. Despite the loss, Cal Poly is anticipated to demonstrate resilience in their upcoming games. Ultimately, while the Golden Bears are favored to win, the Mustangs are expected to perform adequately and even cover the spread for the second consecutive game. Therefore, a sensible choice lies in favoring Cal Poly.

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