Weber State Wildcats at California Golden Bears
Friday, 12/16/11, 10:00 PM EST, TV: N/A
Opening Point Spread: California -16.5
Current Betting Line: California -16.5
Opening Total: 141
Current Total: 142.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Weber State hits the road to take on a Pac-12 Conference team and comes off an 84-66 win over Southern Utah as 12-point home favorites, while also going ‘over’ the total for the fourth consecutive game. All eyes will be fixated on junior guard Damian Hillard, who currently leads the nation in averaging 26.9 points per game, as he was just named Big Sky Player of the Week for the second time. He will need to play a huge game to pull off the upset here, especially with the program losing a starting player in each of its last two games. Weber State is 0-2 ATS as an underdog this year and both games have gone above the total.
The Wildcats are also getting big production out of sophomore center Kyle Tresnak, scoring in double figures for the sixth straight game last time out, averaging 10.8 points on the season. Weber State is dangerous down the stretch in close ball games, ranking first in conference and sixth nationally in free throw percentage. Offensively, the team ranks second in the Big Sky by averaging 80.2 points per game, but is eighth in scoring defense giving up 72.8.
California has put together a two-game winning streak since dropping a 64-63 road affair to the San Diego State Aztecs as 1.5-point favorites. The Bears are 6-2 ATS on the year and the ‘under’ is 2-5 in their contests. Head coach Mike Montgomery has led his team to a 7-0 home record this season, while also going 27-3 versus non-conference competition inside Haas Pavilion after handing Jackson State a 73-46 loss. Defense will be the key to victory in facing a player of Hillard’s caliber, sitting third in the Pac-12 in allowing 56.5 points per game.
The Bears are led by senior guard Jorge Gutierrez and sophomore guard Allen Crabbe, who are averaging 12.9 and 15.9 points per game respectively. California has been a dominating force on the glass this year in out-rebounding teams by a plus-9.7 margin to lead the entire conference. Many around the Pac-12 see the team has the potential front runner to win the conference championship, being picked to finish second behind the UCLA Bruins, but that program has gotten off to a terrible start to the 2011-12 campaign.
Bettors will likely back the Golden Bears due to their 4-0 ATS mark at home, while the Wildcats are 1-5 ATS as a road underdog.
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