Oregon State at California 2/25/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions
The Oregon State Beavers travel on the road to Haas Pavillion to take on a struggling California Bears. Oregon State has lost four of their last five games and is coming off a 61-57 loss at home to Colorado, dropping the Beavers to 11-11 (7-9 conference). Cal has dropped back-to-back road games after being dominated by Washington State and then losing 62-51 to Washington, dropping to 8-17 (3-15 conference).
California has been one of the worst offenses not only in the Pac-12 but the entire country, averaging 65.7 points per game ranking 301st in the country in scoring offense. The Bears have shot 42.8% from the field, 241st nationally, and 32.9% from beyond the arc. Only two players, junior guard Matt Bradley and fellow junior forward Andre Kelly are averaging double-figures this season.
Bradley is coming off All-Conference honors last season and has only continued to improve averaging 18.6 points on 45% shooting. He’s a threat from beyond the arc shooting 36.8% on 5.5 attempts per game and pulls down 4.6 rebounds per game. In the frontcourt, Kelly is scoring 10.2 points whilst pulling down a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game.
Oregon State has too struggled to score it on the offensive end but a lot of that can be attributed to them playing at the 301st fastest tempo in the nation. The Beavers have managed to score 70.3 points per game, 210th in the country in scoring offense, and are shooting 42% from the field. The Beavers have been a solid three-point shooting team shooting 34.7% from beyond the arc, good for 132nd in the nation.
Senior guard Ethan Thompson continues to be a great contributor for the Beavers, he will be making his 117th start in this game and is averaging a career-high 16.2 points per game. Thompson is also dishing out a team-high 4.1 assists. Jarod Lucas has come on strong in his sophomore season, working his way into the starting lineup and averaging 12.2 points on a red-hot 39.4% from beyond the arc.
Oregon State has been a solid defense, they’re allowing 68.2 points per game ranking 120th in the country in scoring defense. They’ve been especially good defending the three, holding opponents to 29.3% from beyond the arc, 17th in the nation. Oregon State is 115th in KenPom adjusted defense.
Cal and their struggles this season haven’t been limited to the offensive end, they’re allowing 70.2 points per game ranking 189th in scoring defense. Opponents are shooting a blistering 46.7% from the field and 38.8% from beyond the arc, ranking 310th and 338th respectively. The Bears are 181st in KenPom adjusted defense.
Betting Trends for vs
Cal is just not a good basketball team on either end of the floor and even at home, this line is far too low. Oregon State has had their inconsistencies this season but the Beavers have, for the most part, taken care of business against teams they’re expected to beat. They’ve had a grueling schedule over the last two weeks and jump on the chance to get back on track. Final score prediction, Oregon State wins and covers ATS 69-64.