SMU vs. Cal Prediction: Spread, Total Points, Moneyline Picks – Wednesday, February 26, 2025
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The SMU Mustangs (20-7, 11-5 ACC) are favored (by 3.5 points) to continue a five-game road winning streak when they visit the California Golden Bears (12-15, 5-11 ACC) on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 11:00 PM ET. The matchup has an over/under of 152.5 points.
In games this season it was favored by 3.5 points or more, SMU has an 11-7-1 record against the spread.
In games it has played as at least a 3.5-point underdog this season, Cal is 9-3 against the spread.
These two teams average 156.3 points per game combined, 3.8 more than the over/under of 152.5.
SMU and Cal have seen their opponents average a combined 5.5 fewer points per game than the over/under of 152.5 set in this matchup.
The average total SMU has had set in matchups this year is 1.4 more points than this outing’s point total.
The average total for Golden Bears games this season is 3.0 fewer points than the point total of 152.5 in this outing.
The Mustangs’ ATS record is 13-13-1 this season.
The Golden Bears have gone 16-11-0 ATS this year.
SMU is outscoring opponents by 10.5 points per game with a +283 scoring differential overall. It puts up 82.2 points per game (24th in college basketball) and gives up 71.7 per contest (178th in college basketball).
SMU ranks 28th in the nation at 35.6 rebounds per game. That’s 6.5 more than the 29.1 its opponents average.
The Mustangs hit 8.3 three-pointers per game (111th in college basketball) at a 38.0% rate (21st in college basketball), compared to the 8.3 their opponents make while shooting 33.1% from beyond the arc.
SMU averages 102.6 points per 100 possessions on offense (38th in college basketball), and allows 89.5 points per 100 possessions (89th in college basketball).
At home, the Mustangs are putting up 2.1 more points per game (83.6) than they are on the road (81.5).
Cal has a -32 scoring differential, falling short by 1.2 points per game. It is putting up 74.1 points per game, 178th in college basketball, and is giving up 75.3 per outing to rank 281st in college basketball.
The 32.9 rebounds per game Cal accumulates rank 130th in the country, 1.8 more than the 31.1 its opponents record.
Cal connects on 7.3 three-pointers per game (217th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 7.1. It shoots 32.3% from deep, and its opponents shoot 37.4%.
Cal averages 94.9 points per 100 possessions on offense (199th in college basketball), and gives up 96.5 points per 100 possessions (272nd in college basketball).
At home, the Golden Bears score 79.2 points per game. Away, they score 69.5.
The Mustangs leader in points and assists is Kevin Miller, who scores 13.4 points per game to go with 5.7 assists.
Matt Cross is SMU’s best rebounder, grabbing an average of 8.2 boards in each contest while scoring 12.0 points per game.
The Mustangs get the most three-point shooting production out of Chuck Harris, who knocks down 2.3 threes per game.
The SMU steals leader is B.J. Edwards, who averages 2.3 takeaways per game, while its blocks leader is Samet Yigitoglu, who compiles 1.0 block per contest.
Andrej Stojakovic is the top scorer for the Golden Bears with 17.6 points per game. Stojakovic also adds 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.
Cal’s leader in rebounds is Mady Sissoko with 7.5 per game, and its leader in assists is Jovan Blacksher Jr. with 2.4 per game.
Blacksher knocks down 1.9 three-pointers per game, the most on the Golden Bears.
Blacksher (1.2 steals per game) is the steal leader for Cal while Sissoko (1.3 blocks per game) is the block leader.
And for more CBB game previews, NCAA basketball picks or even how to bet on college basketball check out the latest NCAAB lines on Betsperts.
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Harris scores 21 points and SMU beats Cal 81-77 after blowing big second-half lead
BERKELEY, Calif. — – Chuck Harris scored 21 points and SMU beat California 81-77 despite blowing a 16-point second-half lead Wednesday night.
Harris was 9-of-12 shooting with three 3-pointers. B.J. Edwards added 18 points and five assists and Samet Yigitoglu had 11 points for the Mustangs (21-7, 12-5 ACC), who shot 56%, made 8 of 15 3-point attempts and survived 18 turnovers.
Jeremiah Wilkinson scored 20 points that included a trio of 3-pointers, Mady Sissoko had 16 points and Rytis Petraitis 12 for the Golden Bears. Cal (12-16, 5-12) shot only 39% but was 22 of 32 at the line to the Mustangs’ 13 of 20 and used strong offensive rebounding for 21 second-chance points.
After Cal tied the game with 5 1/2 minutes left, SMU scored the next nine points. Sissoko scored Cal’s last six points in the final minute and it wasn’t until Matt Cross sank two free throws with three seconds left that SMU clinched the win.
The Mustangs led by 16 after Edwards’ 3-pointer to open the second half and were still up by 10 when a 15-5 Cal run capped by four Andrej Stojakovic free throws tied the game.
SMU led 42-29 led at halftime behind 13 points from Harris.
SMU swept the season series having beaten Cal 76-65 on Jan. 29 in Dallas.
The Golden Bears have lost five straight.
Cal is host to Boston College and SMU plays at Stanford in Saturday games.
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