California Golden Bears vs Clemson Tigers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25
Looking to win big? The Golden Bears and Tigers face off at 8:30 ET on ESPN2. The Tigers are hosting the game at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, SC. The over/under for this game is set at 147.5 points, and Clemson is favored by -14.5 vs. California in a Atlantic Coast conference matchup.
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS VS CLEMSON TIGERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: California Golden Bears +14.5
This game will be played at Littlejohn Coliseum at 8:30 ET on Saturday, January 4th.
WHY BET THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 79-67 in favor of the Tigers.
- Even though we have Clemson winning straight-up, we like California at +14.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 147.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Does California Have A Chance at Littlejohn Coliseum?
California Golden Bears Recent Game/Games
California’s record dropped to 7-6 after an 86-74 loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The Golden Bears were +14 underdogs going into the game but managed to keep it closer than expected.
Cal led 42-38 at halftime but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring just 32 points while allowing 48. The total points for the game reached 160, surpassing the over/under line of 154.5.
California’s offense put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 40% from the field (22/55) with an effective field goal percentage of 45.5%. They hit 6 of 21 from beyond the arc, shooting 28.6% from three, while connecting on 82.8% of their free throws (24/29). The Golden Bears also grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and dished out 13 assists.
Jaland Lowe led the way with 27 points and 8 assists, shooting 9/23 overall and 1/5 from three. Jeremiah Wilkinson added 24 points, hitting 2/7 from deep, while Cameron Corhen was nearly perfect from the field, shooting 7/8 and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Despite California’s defensive efforts, their opponent managed to score 86 points, shooting 50% from the field. They were particularly effective inside the arc, hitting 52% of their two-point attempts, going 18/34.
From beyond the three-point line, California allowed 8 threes on 18 attempts, a 44% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 34 times, where they converted 26 free throws, shooting 76%.
Is A Home Victory Likely for Favored Clemson?
Clemson improved to 11-3 on the season with an 85-71 win over Stanford on Wednesday. The Tigers, playing at home, were -10.5 point favorites going into the game and managed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 156, surpassing the over/under line of 143.5.
After leading 43-41 at halftime, Clemson clamped down defensively in the second half, allowing just 30 points while scoring 42 themselves.
Clemson’s offense put up 85 points in their last game, shooting 48.3% from the field and 42.1% from beyond the arc. They were also impressive at the free-throw line, hitting 87.5% of their attempts.
Oziyah Sellers was a standout, shooting 77.8% overall and 66.7% from three, finishing with 20 points. Chase Hunter led the team with 22 points, while Chauncey Wiggins added 17, hitting 4 of 5 from deep.
Even with Clemson’s defense giving up 71 points, they couldn’t slow down the opposition’s shooting, as they allowed a 48% field goal percentage. The Tigers gave up 20 two-point baskets on 39 attempts, with the other team hitting 51% of their shots inside the arc.
Clemson also struggled to contain the three-point line, where the other team knocked down 8 of 19 attempts, shooting 42% from deep. The Tigers sent the opposition to the free-throw line 24 times, where they converted 21 shots for an 87% success rate. Clemson also allowed 11 offensive rebounds.