California vs Stanford 03/12/25 - NCAAB Picks & Predictions

California enters this Big 12 Tournament matchup with a 14-18 record, coming off an 82-73 double-overtime win against Virginia Tech. Stanford, at 19-12, is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses, including a 112-110 four-overtime thriller against Notre Dame. With both teams battling fatigue, expect an intense contest in Charlotte. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

California has been inconsistent all season but showed toughness in the win over Virginia Tech. Andrej Stojakovic leads the Golden Bears with 16.8 points per game, though his shooting at 41.0% could be better. The offense averages 75.5 points per game but struggles with ball movement, posting just 10.6 assists per contest. Jayden Blacksher Jr. leads the team in assists with only 2.6 per game.

Defensively, California has struggled, allowing 76.9 points per game. The team does well on the glass, grabbing 37.4 rebounds per game, with Mady Sissoko contributing 8.1 per game. The Golden Bears force some turnovers, averaging 6.2 steals, but shot-blocking is limited at 3.7 per game. Stojakovic leads in blocks with just 1.3 per contest, showing a lack of rim protection.

Stanford has relied heavily on Maxime Raynaud, who leads the team with 20.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. The Cardinal offense has been solid, scoring 72.8 points per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Jared Blakes runs the offense effectively, averaging 4.6 assists per game, helping Stanford move the ball better than California.

Defensively, Stanford has been the better team, allowing only 70.4 points per game. They struggle on the boards compared to California, pulling down 34.6 rebounds per contest. However, they create more turnovers with 6.8 steals per game. Blakes leads in steals with 1.8 per contest, while Raynaud anchors the paint with 1.2 blocks per game.

Stanford has the better overall record and more efficient offense, led by Raynaud, who is dominant in the paint. California struggles to defend, giving up nearly 77 points per game, and has issues moving the ball. Stanford also has the stronger defense, allowing six fewer points per game. The Golden Bears’ rebounding edge may help, but the Cardinal’s defensive consistency should be the difference. Final Score Prediction: Stanford wins 78-70.