Cal v. USC College Basketball 2024 Betting Odds and Lines
Cal is the underdog against USC
The California Golden Bears (2-1) are underdogs in their Sunday evening match-up against the USC Trojans (3-0), according to the latest college basketball betting odds and lines.
Both teams debuted nearly brand-new teams for the 2024 men’s college basketball season. The California Golden Bears’ roster has 15 new players this season, including 11 scholarship athletes. USC’s squad has 17 newcomers and only two players from last year’s team. The Trojans recruited 11 athletes from the transfer portal.
Cal v. USC college basketball betting odds and lines: Who is favored to win?
As of Sunday early morning, the latest college basketball betting odds for Cal v. USC are between California +9.5 and California +10, according to betting lines and odds independently collected and reviewed by Write for California. The California +9.5 line implies Cal is about a 10-point underdog against the USC Trojans.
According to Vegas Insider, which aggregates U.S. sportsbooks’ offered odds and lines, the Cal v. USC college basketball line opened at California +10 earlier this week.
As of Sunday early morning, sportsbooks offer totals for “over-or-under” total score bets between 152.5 and 153.5 points, according to odds independently collected and reviewed by Write for California. Vegas Insider’s data reports the total opened at 153 points earlier this week.
An “over” bet placed on a total score of 153.5 points will win if the combined score of Cal v. USC is 154 points or more. In contrast, an “under” bet pays out if the two teams’ scores add up to 153 points or fewer.
The California +9.5 line and 153.5-point total suggest USC will beat Cal, 82-72.
“Moneyline” bets pay out based on the game’s final result without a point handicap or “spread.” As of Sunday early morning, Cal v. USC moneyline odds range between California +360 and California +390 and USC -470 and USC -550, according to lines and odds independently collected and reviewed by Write for California.
The Cal v. USC moneyline opened earlier this week at about California +360 and USC -470, per Vegas Insider’s analysis and data.
A moneyline bet on Cal’s most favorable moneyline of California +390 pays a $390 profit on a $100 bet if Cal upsets USC. In contrast, a moneyline bet on USC’s most favorable moneyline of USC -470 requires a $470 bet to win $100 because USC is the favorite.
Cal v. USC college basketball: What you should know
The California Golden Bears are 2-1 against the point-spread handicap in the 2024 men’s college basketball season, while the USC Trojans are 1-2.
Of three games played so far, Cal has had two games result in “over” combined scores and one with an “under.” USC has the same 2-1 record for total-score results this season.
California leads the all-time series against USC, 137-133, and won the last match-up, an overtime 83-77 home win on Feb. 7, 2024. However, USC won the previous game on its home court, 82-72, on Jan. 3, 2024. Cal hasn’t beaten USC at Galen Center in Los Angeles since Jan. 8, 2017.
According to Vegas Insider’s analysis of bets on Cal v. USC, 72% of all point-spread bets have been on the USC Trojans. Over half (55%) of all total-score bets placed have been on the under. Eighty-nine percent of all Cal v. USC moneyline wagers have been on USC, the game’s favorites.
The Nov. 17, 2024, contest between Cal and USC is the first in a home-and-home non-conference series in the 2024 men’s college basketball season. Cal’s home game against USC has not yet been scheduled.