California Golden Bears vs USC Trojans Prediction, 1/3/2024 College Basketball Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: California Golden Bears vs USC Trojans

Date: Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Location: Galen Center in Los Angeles, CA

TV: PAC12

The California Golden Bears (4-8) are traveling to Galen Center on Wednesday where they will compete against the USC Trojans (6-7).

The California Golden Bears faced off with Arizona State and went home with a loss by a final score of 71-69 in their last contest. In reference to personal fouls, the Golden Bears finished with 13 while Arizona State finished the game with 18 personal fouls. They knocked down 10 of 31 tries from beyond the perimeter. Arizona State shot 78.6% from the free throw line by knocking down 11 of 14 attempts. Additionally, Arizona State collected 33 rebounds (5 offensive, 28 defensive), but wasn't able to put a block in the stat sheet. Arizona State recorded 3 dimes and had 9 steals in this contest. With regard to defense, California allowed 38.5% from the field on 25 of 65 shooting. They also doled out 12 assists for the game while forcing the opposition into 12 turnovers and having 8 steals. Pertaining to grabbing boards, they earned 41 with 7 of them being of the offensive sort. When they shot from the free throw line, the Golden Bears made 18 of 22 attempts for a rate of 81.8%. California ended the game with a 38.3% FG percentage (23 out of 60) and buried 5 of 27 three-point shots.

Jaylon Tyson is a guy who came through in this contest. He walked away from this one shooting 40.0% from the field and also dished out 5 assists. He was on the hardwood for 36 mins and also collected 9 rebounds. He recorded 20 points on 6 of 15 shooting.

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California heads into this one with a record of 4-8 on the campaign. They average 76.4 points per game (154th in the country) while going 43.7% from the field. The Golden Bears are hitting 34.2% on three-point attempts (108 of 316) and 71.7% from the free throw line. As a team, California is pulling down 37.3 rebounds per game and has 142 assists for the year, which is 323rd in the nation in terms of passing the rock. They turn it over 13.2 times per contest and as a team they commit 18.3 personal fouls every game.

On the defensive end, the Golden Bears are able to force 10.9 turnovers per contest and they draw 17.4 fouls. They are currently ranked 78th in college hoops in giving up assists with 143 conceded for the year. The Golden Bears defense is allowing a FG percentage of 45.3% (322 of 711) and they surrender 33.8 boards per contest as a squad. They give up 37.3% on shots from beyond the arc and they are ranked 325th in Division 1 in points per game allowed (77.9).

In their last game, the USC Trojans took a loss by a score of 86-70 when they faced Oregon State. In relation to rebounding, USC permitted Oregon State to pull down 25 overall (6 offensive). They went 47.1% from beyond the perimeter by going 8 of 17 and ended up going 22 of 31 from the charity stripe (71.0%). The Trojans allowed Oregon State to make 28 of their 47 attempts from the field which left them with a rate of 59.6% in this matchup. When the final whistle was blown, the Trojans went 27 for 53 from the field which gave them a rate of 50.9%. Regarding shots from beyond the arc, USC made 10 of their 26 tries (38.5%). They were able to convert 6 of the free throws for a rate of 75.0%. Oregon State was called for 15 fouls in this game which got the Trojans to the charity stripe for a total of 8 attempts. They also turned the ball over 18 times, while recording 10 steals in the matchup. The Trojans pulled down 9 defensive rebounds and 8 offensive boards totaling 17 for the game.

Boogie Ellis ended up being a major contributor for the Trojans in the game. He converted 7 out of 11 in this game for a field goal rate of 63.6%, and tallied 1 rebound. He tallied 20 points in his 38 minutes on the hardwood and totaled 4 dimes for this game.

USC has a mark of 6-7 for the campaign. When it comes to offensive execution, the Trojans are shooting 45.3% from the field, which ranks 163rd in the country. USC has scored 1,008 points on the year (77.5 per contest) and they snag 36.7 rebounds per game. They are earning an assist 14.8 times per contest (105th in Division 1) and they are giving up possession 14.1 times per contest. The Trojans commit 17.6 fouls per game and they go 72.0% from the free throw line.

The Trojans defensively are ranked 274th in D-1 in PPG given up with 74.8. They are forcing their opponents into 13.4 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 42.7% from the field (181st in college basketball). The USC defense allows 34.4% on 3-pointers (105 of 305) and opponents are knocking down 71.9% of their shots from the free throw line. They relinquish 14.8 assists and 35.8 total boards per game, which ranks them 313th and 220th in college basketball.

Who will win tonight's NCAA basketball game against the spread?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take California

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