#3 Arizona at Cal Odds, Best Bets & Prediction

#3 Arizona at Cal Preview

The No. 3 Arizona Wildcats will try to remain unbeaten inside the Pac-12 when they visit the California Golden Bears for a Sunday matinee. While the Wildcats are one of the best teams in the country, the Golden Bears are riding a four-game losing streak, making this a potential mismatch.

Arizona Wildcats Preview

The Wildcats endured an unusual stretch in late December and early January, suffering their first loss of the season against Tennessee and having several games postponed due to COVID concerns. But Arizona has responded to that loss with four straight wins. They’ve also been convincing wins with the Wildcats winning those four games by an average of over 20 points. The Cats are currently 15-1 and 5-0 in the Pac-12, giving them a one-game lead atop the standings at the start of the weekend.

Arizona’s offense might be the most dynamic in the country, as the Wildcats rank third in the country in points and second in assists. They have four players who average double figures and eight who score at least six points per game. Among that group is point guard Kerr Kriisa, who averages 11.4 points and 5.5 assists per game, playing the role of both scorer and provider. Even backup point guard Dalen Terry is averaging 4.1 assists per game. In fact, Arizona has seven players who average at least two assists per game, which means the Cats are always looking to make the extra pass and get the best shot possible.

At the same time, Arizona also has plenty of players who can put the ball through the net. Bennedict Mathurin is the leading scorer at 17.7 points per game and arguably the best shooter on the team outside of Kriisa. The 6’6’’ wing is complemented nicely by Arizona’s impressive size in the frontcourt with 6’11’’ Azuolas Tubelis and 7’1’’ Christian Koloko. Tubelis is averaging 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game while Koloko gives the Cats 12.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game. Backup center Oumar Dallo is another seven-footer who could average a double-double if he weren’t limited to just 13.5 minutes per game behind Koloko. The Wildcats also have another couple of capable shooters waiting in the wings with Justin Kier and Peele Larsson.

California Golden Bears Preview

As mentioned, the Bears have lost four in a row, spoiling a stretch in which Cal won seven of eight, including a pair of league games. In fairness, two of their four straight losses have come to USC and UCLA. But both losses came by double figures, which doesn’t bode well for Cal’s chances against a top-5 team, even at home.

Despite the team’s recent struggles, the Golden Bears have at least three players who they can rely on most of the time. Charlotte transfer Jordan Shepherd has quickly adjusted to life in the Pac-12, averaging a team-high 14.3 points per game. The Golden Bears are also getting good production from their frontcourt with Andre Kelly averaging 14.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and Grant Anticevich producing 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. However, Anticevich has faltered in recent games, scoring just 15 total points over his last three games, contributing a lot to Cal’s losing streak. As the team’s best three-point shooter, the Bears can’t afford to have Anticevich struggle, as he’s the only player on the roster who has made more than 20 three-point field goals in 18 games.

Cal’s other problem is that Shepherd, Kelly, and Anticevich are the only three players who average more than six points per game. The Golden Bears lack reliable scorers outside of that trio, so when one of them has an off-night, the entire team is in trouble. To be fair, Joel Brown has been steady at point guard despite not being a high-volume scorer. However, he’s missed time recently because of illness. The Bears don’t have many other options in the backcourt if he’s absent or limited on Sunday, although Cal’s bench does have plenty of size, which is an advantage they’ve been able to exploit at times this season.

#3 Arizona at Cal Prediction

If Arizona’s recent games are any indication, this could be a lopsided affair. The Wildcats are almost impossible to contain for 40 minutes while Cal is somewhat limited offensively, especially if Anticevich continues to struggle and Brown’s status remains up in the air. The caveat is that Cal is one of the few teams in the Pac-12 with the size to compete with Arizona’s frontcourt. However, that may not be enough to prevent the Wildcats from winning comfortably.

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