Stanford Cardinal at Cardinal Golden Bears
Haas Pavilion – Berkeley, California
Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: California -4
Current Line: California -3
Opening Total: 143
Current Total: 142 1/2
Opening Money Line: Cal -170 / Stanford +145
Current Money Line: Cal -160 / Stanford +135
The 15-7 California Golden Bears are coming off an upset of then undefeated and #1 ranked Arizona 60-58 Saturday in Berkeley. It was the third time in history that Cal upset the #1 ranked team. The Golden Bears are tied for second in the Pac 12 with UCLA at 6-3. Both teams are behind 8-1 Arizona in the standings. Next up for Cal is a home game against Bay rival Stanford Wednesday. The 14-7 Cardinal are 5-4 in the Pac 12 and part of a five way tie for third in the conference.
Cal leads the series 146-117 against Stanford, including 56-44 in Berkeley. The Golden Bears beat the Cardinal 69-62 in Stanford January 2 in the Pac 12 opener for both schools. Cal looks to sweep Stanford for the first time since 2010 with a win Wednesday.
Stanford is coached by Johnny Dawkins. The Cardinal have home losses to BYU, California and Arizona, road losses to Oregon State and UCLA, and losses to Pittsburgh and Michigan, both in Brooklyn. Stanford has key home wins over Bucknell, Northwestern, UC-Davis, Cal Poly Wahsington State, Washington and Saturday versus Arizona State 76-70 along with road wins at Denver, Connecticut, Oregon and USC. The Cardinal also have a neutral site win over Houston in Brooklyn. The Cardinal are 12-6-1 ATS and the total is 10-8-1.
Stanford is outscoring teams 76-70 this season. The Cardinal are shooting 47.1% from the field and 39.6% from 3 point range. Stanford is #52 in field goal percentage and #21 in 3 point shooting nationally. The Cardinals make 70.1% of their free throws. Stanford opponents are shooting 41.3% from the field and 36.2% from 3 point range. The Cardinal average 36.7 rebounds per game and opponents average 29.9. Stanford averages 13.2 assists, 11.1 turnovers, 4.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game. Opponents average 13.8 assists, 10.9 turnovers, 5.6 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game.
Guard Chasson Randle averages 18.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Forward Dwight Powell averages 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1 block per game. Guard-forward Anthony Brown averages 12.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. Forward Josh Huestis averages 11.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game. Center Stefan Nastic averages 8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1 block per game. Guards Aaron Bright and Christian Sanders are both out for the season, along with forward Andy Brown.
California is coached by Mike Montgomery. The Golden Bears have losses to Syracuse and Dayton in the Maui Invitational, at UC-Santa Barbara, at Creighton, at USC and at UCLA and at home to Arizona State. Cal has key wins over Oakland, Minnesota in Maui, UC-Irvine, Fresno State, Nevada, Stanford, Oregon and Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, and Arizona. The upset over Arizona stopped a three game skid for the Golden Bears . Cal is 11-10 ATS and the total is 9-12 this season.
California is outscoring teams 75-69 this season. The Golden Bears are shooting 46.3% from the field and 34.4% from 3 point range. Cal makes 69% from the free throw line. Golden Bear opponents are shooting 41% from the field and 35.5% from 3 point range. Cal averages 36.9 rebounds per game and opponents average 30.5 per game. The Golden Bears average 15.8 assists, 10.2 turnovers, 5.8 steals and 4.5 blocks per game. Opponents average 12 assists, 10.9 turnovers, 4.5 steals, and 3.2 blocks per game.
Cal guard Justin Cobbs averages 15.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game. Forward David Kravish averages 11.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. Forward Richard Solomon averages 11.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Guard Tyrone Wallace averages 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Guard Jabari Bird averages 8.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Guard Jordan Mathews averages 8.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Guard Ricky Kreklow averages 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He is out indefinitely with a broken hand.
Stanford is 6-1 ATS overall and against Pac 12 teams, 5-1 against teams with winning records, 4-1 in Wednesday games, and after a cover, and 5-2-1 after a straight up win. The over is 6-2 in Berkeley in the last 8 games in this series.
Cal is 5-0 ATS against teams with winning road records, 5-1 after a straight up win and a cover, 4-1 at home, 5-2 against teams with winning records, 7-3 overall, and 1-6 in Wednesday games. The home team is 9-3 ATS in this series recently and was favored in each of those games. The Golden Bears have covered 5 of the last 6 in Berkeley against the Cardinal.
These two rivals usually split the season series, or at least they have in recent years. I would normally say Cal would be in for a letdown after upsetting Arizona but they are playing their longtime arch-rival. Still, I think Stanford pulls off the upset on the road.
