The Cal Golden Bears take on the USC Trojans in Los Angeles, CA. Tip-off is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
The Trojans are favored by 10 points on the spread with a moneyline of -470. The total is also set at 153 points.
Here’s my California vs. USC predictions and college basketball picks for November 17, 2024.
Cal vs USC Prediction
My Pick: Cal +10
My Cal vs USC best bet is on the Golden Bears spread, with the best odds currently available at FanDuel. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Cal vs USC Odds
| California Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+10 -112 | 153 -108 / -112 | +360 |
| USC Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-10 -108 | 153 -108 / -112 | -470 |
- Cal vs USC spread: USC -10
- Cal vs USC over/under: 153 points
- Cal vs USC moneyline: USC -470, Cal +360
- Cal vs USC best bet: Cal +10
Spread
I'm taking Cal on the spread.
Moneyline
I'm avoiding the moneyline, as I don't expect the Bears to win straight up.
Over/Under
I'm passing on the total.
My Pick: Cal +10
Cal vs USC College Basketball Betting Preview
We have a throwback Pac-12 After Dark non-conference matchup, as the Golden Bears and Trojans go head-to-head as members of the ACC and Big Ten, respectively.
Not only are these teams entering new conferences, but both rosters are essentially entirely new.
Cal returns just two players from last season, and neither averaged more than a single point per game. The Golden Bears' lacking chemistry showed in their 16-point beatdown at the hands of Vanderbilt, as they committed 20 turnovers to just six assists.
On the flip side, USC has a new head coach — Eric Musselman — and lost nine players, including Boogie Ellis and Isaiah Collier. The Trojans haven't posted an alarming result like Cal, but they allowed 95 points to UT Arlington and were trailing with less than three minutes left.
This is way too many points for two programs that are working out the kinks with entirely new rotations.
Given his proven track record over a larger sample size, I trust Musselman over Mark Madsen, but I also think Madsen impressed last season, guiding Cal to an increase of 10 wins despite the loss of Devin Askew to injury.
Madsen should have his players motivated after an embarrassing showing against Vandy. And it's not like Cal doesn't have the pieces. Andrej Stojakovic can shoot the ball, Jovan Blacksher Jr. is in his sixth season, BJ Omot could score at North Dakota and Rytis Petraitis is a good passer.
Finally, USC's Matt Knowling missed the game against UT Arlington, and even though he's expected to be in the lineup against Cal, the Trojans need him at 100% to blow out the Bears and cover this spread.
This spread is a potential overreaction to one game, so I believe Cal will keep it within 10 or so.
