The Colorado Buffaloes (+13) are heading west to face their Pac-12 rival California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and spectators can catch the action live on Pac-12 Networks.
Colorado Buffaloes at California Golden Bears Betting Preview
In this Saturday Pac-12 game, California is projected as the heavy favorite and the team’s currently giving up 13 points. The Buffaloes are also receiving +360 moneyline odds while the Golden Bears are -525. This Pac-12 tilt should provide several decent live betting opportunities, and oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 43 points.
Square bettors have been hammering the Golden Bears, as the line opened at -11. The game’s over/under has not changed after being set initially at 43.
The Buffaloes are 5-6 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 0.7 units so far in 2018. They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 2-8. The Golden Bears have gained 1.9 units this season. The team is 5-4-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-8.
The Buffaloes are 5-6 straight up (SU), including 2-6 SU against conference opponents. The Golden Bears are 6-4 SU overall and 3-4 SU in conference play.
The Buffaloes will look to get back in stride after a 30-7 loss to Utah last week. the Buffaloes completed 21-of-33 passes for 162 yards and two interceptions. Steven Montez went 13-for-22 for 84 yards and one interception while Sam Noyer completed four-of-six for 23 yards. Travon McMillian (41 yards on 13 rush attempts, one TD) spearheaded the running attack. Laviska Shenault Jr. (nine receptions, 64 yards) and Juwann Winfree (three catches, 54 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
California is coming off of a 15-14 win over USC two weeks ago. Chase Garbers completed 14-of-26 passes for 93 yards and one touchdown. Patrick Laird (71 rushing yards on 19 attempts) led the running game as Laird (five receptions, 18 yards) and Jeremiah Hawkins (three catches, 11 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Colorado’s run the ball on 51.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while California has an overall rush percentage of 54.2 percent. The Buffaloes have produced 143 rush yards/game (including 119 per game versus Pac-12 opponents) and have 20 scores on the ground this year. The Golden Bears are putting up 170 rushing yards per game (165 in conference) and have 12 total rush TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then it appears the Golden Bears should hold an advantage in all aspects of the ground game, as their running backs has logged 4.4 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 3.6 YPC to opponents. The Buffaloes have rushed for 3.8 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 3.9 to opponents.
The Buffaloes offensive scheme has tallied 257 yards per contest in the air overall (245 per game against conference opposition) and has 17 passing TDs so far. The Golden Bears have put up 194 pass yards per outing (191.0 in the Pac-12) and have 13 total pass scores.
Colorado has allowed opponents to run for an average of 150 yards and pass for 245 yards per game. The California defense has given up 183.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 134.8 yards per game to opposing runners. The Golden Bears are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 3.81 to opponents, while the Buffaloes have given up a 6.40 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Montez has put up 2,480 yards on the year, and has completed 67 percent of his 331 attempts with 17 scores through the air and six interceptions. He has a 6.74 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 3.21 over the last two outings.
Laviska Shenault Jr., Travon McMillian and Juwann Winfree have collectively accounted for 424 total yards and two touchdowns over the last two outings.
For the home team, Chase Garbers has connected on 96-of-150 passes for 973 yards, 10 TDs and four INTs. Garbers’ ANY/A stands at 5.80 for the year and 3.55 over his last two outings.
Similar to the Buffaloes, expect a balanced attack offensively from California this Saturday. Patrick Laird, Chase Garbers and Vic Wharton III have combined to account for 356 total yards and two touchdowns as a trio the last couple of games.
When these two squads met last year, Colorado got the victory over California, 44-28.
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Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Over/Under for Colorado’s last game was 48. The under cashed in the team’s 30-7 defeat to Utah.
Colorado has rushed for 1.8 yards per attempt across its past three contests and 2.2 over its last two.
California has averaged 3.0 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.3 over its last two.
California has lost 10 fumbles this season while Colorado has lost five.
Over its last three matchups, Colorado is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for California’s previous matchup was 45. The under cashed in that 15-14 victory over USC.
Over its last three matchups, California is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
California has won four of its last five games SU, with a -6-point defeat to Washington State on November 3rd representing the only loss over that stretch.
The Buffaloes offense has created 10 pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Golden Bears have put up four such plays.
The Colorado defense has allowed 11 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while California has given up five such plays.
The Colorado offense has created 15 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while California has created nine such runs.
The Buffaloes defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Golden Bears have given up eight such runs.
The Colorado defense has 26 sacks on the year while California has 23.
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