Syracuse Orange vs
California Golden BearsPredictions & Preview

Syracuse to Face Cal in Hardwood Matchup in the Golden State, California Favored to Win by -5 Opening Line

In a hardwood matchup in the Golden State, Syracuse will face off against Cal on Saturday night. Both teams are coming off road losses where they covered the spread as underdogs. In their previous meeting, Cal emerged victorious with a 73-59 home win in 2014. California is favored to win this game with a -5 opening line that has remained steady.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Orange +180 | Golden Bears -219
• Spread: Orange +5 (-110) | Golden Bears -5 (-110)
• Total: Over/Under 148.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that California will win straight-up is 69%.

Syracuse vs California Stats

Syracuse Orange

Syracuse faced a tough loss against Stanford in their last game, falling behind early and struggling to close the gap despite shooting 46.9% from the field. Jaquan Carlos led the team with 16 points. Overall, the team is averaging 74.2 points per game and is ranked 195th in offense and 322nd in defense. Key players include JJ Starling, Donnie Freeman, and Eddie Lampkin Jr. Syracuse is shooting 45.3% from the field, 31.2% from three-point range, and 68.8% from the free-throw line. Freeman is out indefinitely with a foot injury. Defensively, Syracuse allows 77.6 points per game and is ranked 321st in scoring defense. The team allows opponents to shoot 45.7% from the field and 72.4% from the free-throw line. They collect an average of 37.6 rebounds per game and average 13.3 assists and 12.5 turnovers per game. Overall, Syracuse is 9-12 this season and holds a power ranking of 251.

California Golden Bears Analysis

Cal's three-game win streak was ended by SMU in their most recent game, dropping them to 11-10 overall and 4-6 in conference play. Despite leading early on, Cal fell behind and couldn't recover, ultimately losing by double digits. Rytis Petraitis led the team with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Their offensive statistics rank them at #153 for scoring, shooting 43.14% from the field and 32.40% from beyond the arc. Defensively, they allow 46.46% shooting and 36.63% from three-point range. Several key players are currently questionable due to injuries. Overall, Cal has a power ranking of 169 and will need contributions from various players to bounce back in their upcoming games.

Syracuse's Road Woes Continue as Cal Looks to Capitalize on Home Advantage

This season, Syracuse has struggled while playing away from the JMA Wireless Dome, with a 1-5 record on the road and a 0-3 record in neutral floor contests. Conversely, Cal boasts a 9-3 record at home, although they recently suffered a loss on the road to SMU. The Golden Bears are facing injury concerns, with hopes of Stojakovic and Sissoko returning from illness. Considering Syracuse's poor performance away from home, it is uncertain whether they can improve their record in this matchup. Therefore, a cautious approach may be warranted when considering Cal as the favored team, especially if Stojakovic and Sissoko are unable to play.

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