San Diego St. Aztecs vs
California Golden BearsPredictions & Preview

California Golden Bears Have Chance to Upset No. 23 San Diego Aztecs in Exciting Matchup at SAP Center

College basketball fans can look forward to an exciting matchup between the California Golden Bears and the No. 23 San Diego Aztecs at SAP Center in San Jose on Saturday, December 21, 2024. San Diego State is the favorite, opening at -5.5, with the current line at San Diego State -5. Last year, SDSU defeated Cal 76-67 as a 13.5-point favorite at a neutral site. Will the Golden Bears cover the spread this time around? Find out more in this California vs. San Diego State prediction.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Aztecs -215 | Golden Bears +175
• Spread: Aztecs -5 (-110) | Golden Bears +5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 146.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that San Diego St. will win straight-up is 68%.

San Diego St. vs California Stats

San Diego St. Aztecs

The California Golden Bears secured a much-needed victory against Northwestern State, ending their three-game losing streak. Cal held their opponents to 43.1% shooting while making 52.8% of their own shots, resulting in an 84-66 win. Junior guard Andrej Stojakovic had a career-high 31 points, leading the team to victory. Despite being ranked 107th in the NCAA NET Rankings, the Golden Bears have shown solid offensive capabilities, scoring an average of 113.4 points per 100 possessions. San Diego State, on the other hand, ranks 33rd in power rankings with an average of 81.30 points per game, but struggles defensively, allowing 77.30 points to be scored against them. Both teams have strengths and weaknesses in different areas of the game, making for an interesting matchup.

California Golden Bears Analysis

The San Diego State Aztecs have had a successful recent stretch, going 4-0 SU and 2-2 ATS in their last four games, including a notable victory over No. 6 Houston. They are currently ranked No. 23 in the AP Top 25 Poll and No. 56 in the NCAA NET Rankings. The team's offensive and defensive stats place them in the top 100 nationally, with an average of 110.5 points scored per 100 possessions and 97.3 points allowed in return. Key players for the Aztecs include sophomore guard Miles Byrd and senior guard Nick Boyd, who combine for 26.1 points and 6.6 assists per game.

Meanwhile, the California Golden Bears have a power ranking of 169 and are ranked #185 for offense and #41 for defense. They are 7-2 overall and 3-5 ATS. In their last three matchups against San Diego State, the Aztecs went 1-2. Offensively, San Diego State is shooting well from the field and three-point range, while also averaging a decent number of rebounds and assists. Defensively, they excel in field goal percentage allowed and defensive rebounding.

Overall, the Aztecs have a strong team with a balanced offense and solid defense, making them a competitive force in college basketball. If you are looking to bet on college basketball games, considering the expertise of the Best College Basketball Cappers could be beneficial.

Aztecs prioritize defense over 3-point shooting, face tough challenge from Golden Bears

The Aztecs have a 3-point shooting percentage of 36.4%, averaging 8.7 triples per game, ranking them 117th in the nation. Instead of heavily relying on 3-point shooting, they prioritize their defensive abilities, with opponents only making 41.6% of their 2-point field goals (5th) and 30.2% of their 3-point attempts (63rd). A noticeable weakness in SDSU's game is their defensive rebounding, where their percentage of 67.3% ranks 275th. On the other hand, the Golden Bears excel in offensive rebound percentage (38.0%, 16th) and defensive rebound percentage (72.6%, 91st). With a strong offensive presence, particularly in free-throw rate (37th, .412) and 3-point percentage (38.1%, 38th), Cal has the potential to challenge SDSU's defense and keep the game competitive until the end.

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