Arizona Wildcats vs California Golden Bears Point Spread Picks

Arizona has ugly number in the last few years but you can throw those out the window. Second-year head coach Jedd Fisch recruited so well that the Wildcats' Class of 2022 was ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12. And they've won two of three putting that dreadful 1-23 run in the rearview mirror. QB Jayden de Laura was the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2021 and has 6 TDs, 748 yards, in three games. Arizona was a 6-point underdog in the opener but won at San Diego State, 38-20. Last week, they were a dog to North Dakota State but won again, 31-28. California made the long trip to Notre Dame last week and lost 24-17. They also beat UNLV just 20-14 as a two-touchdown favorite. QB Jack Plummer has been sacked 12 times in three contests and the running game is averaging just 3.6 yards per rush. Cal is 69-97 ATS as a favorite, plus 27-47 ATS when the line is +3 to -3. Arizona won only one game a year ago...and it was over Cal, 10-3, as the Golden Bears had just 122 total yards of offense. Play Arizona.

California was flying high after opening the season 3-0, but the Bears turned out to be frauds as they were never in the game in a 42-24 loss to Oregon as just a two-point underdog. The Ducks accumulated 485 yards of offense, including 260 on the ground for a 6.2 average and Justin Herbert picked apart the Bears defense completing 16-of-22 for 225 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Meanwhile, the Ducks picked off four passes and held the Bears to 186 yards through the air. Arizona made a gallant effort almost coming back from a 24-7 deficit before falling to USC 24-20. Kahlil Tate completed 16-of-33 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns in a losing cause. The Wildcats won last year's meeting 45-44 in overtime for their fourth consecutive win over the Bears and all were close games. Arizona is averaging 481.4 yards per game, including 217.4 on the ground, all of which is bad news for a Bears defense that performed as it did against Oregon. California has a win against BYU, but its other two victories were against FCS Idaho State and mediocre North Carolina. The Bears should not be favored on the road, so play Arizona on the moneyline.

This is a high Pac-12 total but Cal is overvalued with totals on a 5-1 run UNDER, including five straight UNDERs at home. Arizona is in town with a terrific ground game capable of chewing up yards and keeping the clock moving at fourth in the nation in rushing with 342.3 yards per contest. They've turned the offense over to sophomore QB Khalil Tate (two TDs, one pick), who leads the team in rushing. California is off a dominant defensive performance in a 37-3 victory over previously unbeaten Washington State. Washington State QB Luke Falk threw all five of his interceptions against four or fewer pass rushers in Cal's upset. It was a brilliant defensive game plan from first-year Cal coach Justin Wilcox and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter. With the Bears dropping several players into coverage, Falk seldom had options to throw. Cal is 7-3 UNDER the total after a victory of 20+ points, as well as 20-6-1 UNDER in October. Back the UNDER in this one.