The California Bears have a nice record early on but will face the biggest test of their non-conference schedule when they face off against the Virginia Cavaliers. Virginia is nationally ranked and even despite playing this one on the road, it will likely be the favorite.
California has some tough games coming up when it gets into Pac-12 action and hopes to go into it on a high note with an upset of Virginia. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, could keep climbing the polls with a tough road victory before it begins a tough stretch.
This war on the floor will go down Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at 10 p.m. ET at the Haas Pavilion. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
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Odds at BookMaker.eu
Virginia is 9-1 straight up and 6-3 against the spread. The Cavaliers have only played one game on the road this season and covered in that matchup. Virginia has been the favorite in nine of its ten contests and has covered in six of them.
California is 9-2 straight up and 4-7 against the spread. The Bears could be the underdog in this one, something they have yet to be this year.
Look-Ahead Situation
The Cavaliers will attempt to avoid it, but they could be concentrating on what will come after this. They are playing a road game at the No. 11 Louisville Cardinals and then hosting the No. 23 Florida State Seminoles in back-to-back contests following this one.
They are games which kick off the ACC slate, and will be crucially important in the race to get to the top of the conference standings. Virginia would certainly love to pick up this win, but it would be natural to have one eye ahead on a pair of games that have more significance.
Matchup to Watch
California’s offense vs. Virginia’s defense - The Cavaliers are fantastic on the defensive side of the court, allowing a paltry 46.7 points per contest on the season. They total more than five blocks per game and seven steals per contest and will aim to slow down California.
The Bears have been pretty good offensively this season, pouring in 72.5 points per game. Cal has been led in scoring by Charlie Moore, who is averaging 17.1 points per contest while adding 3.2 assists and 1.5 steals.
Jabari Bird is another one of the team’s stars as he puts up 15.8 points per contest, while Ivan Rabb is the other player in double digits with 15.1 points per game. Bird and Rabb both missed a chunk of action earlier in the season but each have returned, which should increase the team’s chance of making this one competitive.
California is shooting 45 percent as a team this season and would love to shoot that percentage against Virginia, but it will be easier said than done.
Free College Basketball ATS Picks
This is certainly an interesting matchup right before conference play for both sides. Virginia has the national ranking and the better record but Cal plays at home and is now back to full strength.
The Bears have the talent to make this a good game and it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see them pull out a win. However, Virginia has been the more impressive teams early in the year and the choice is for the Cavaliers to go into Berkeley and come away with a hard-fought victory.
If that happens, the Cavaliers will have to be feeling good about themselves as they head into a really tough portion of the schedule in ACC play. Cal will likewise have tough slate coming up and would love to win, but it’s not expected to happen.
College Basketball Odds: Virginia 67, California 62
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