Cal football 2023 win totals set at 5 to 5.5 wins yet again
The Bears remain on their usual line of projected performance in the Justin Wilcox era.
The California Golden Bears have been a pretty predictable bet in Vegas on one front. The win totals remain about the same as last year—5 to 5.5 wins.
Cal should have a fairly good defense yet again, but the question remains on offense, where the Bears are turning over much of their team there. That, plus three losing seasons in a row, has prevented Cal from moving much higher in the rungs under Justin Wilcox.
Based on the win totals, there are three clear favorites for the conference title in USC, Washington and Oregon, three contenders running just behind in UCLA, Oregon State and Utah. Washington State, Cal, Arizona and Arizona State remain mired in the search for a bowl game. And Colorado and Stanford are expected to be bad. Nothing too surprising.
A look at the win totals from a few sportsbooks. Cal fans, what overs and unders do you like this season?
USC: 9.5 wins (Over -175, under +145)
Oregon: 9.5 wins (Over +105, under -125)
Washington: 9.5 wins (Over +120, under -145)
UCLA: 8.5 wins (Over +105, under -125)
Oregon State: 8.5 wins (Over +115, under -135)
Utah: 8.5 wins (Over +115, under -135)
Washington State: 6.5 wins (Over -110, under -110)
Cal: 5.5 wins (Over +120, under -150)
Arizona: 5.5 wins (Over +145, under -175)
Arizona State: 4.5 wins (Over -155, under +130)
Stanford: 3.5 wins (Over +130, under -155)
Colorado: 3.5 wins (Over +140, under -170)
USC: 10 wins (Over -110)
Oregon: 9.5 wins (Over +110)
Washington: 9.5 wins (Over +120)
UCLA: 8.5 wins (Over +100)
Utah: 8.5 wins (Over +115)
Oregon State: 8.5 wins (Over +130)
Washington State: 6 wins (Over -140)
Cal: 5 wins (Over -130)
Arizona: 5 wins (Over -105)
Arizona State: 5 wins (Over +130)
Colorado: 3.5 wins (Over +100)
Stanford: 3 wins (Over +110)
USC: 10 wins (Over +100, under -120)
Oregon: 9.5 wins (Over +100, under -120)
Washington: 9 wins (Over -105, under -115)
UCLA: 8.5 wins (Over +110, under -130)
Oregon State: 8.5 wins (Over +120, under -140)
Utah: 8.5 wins (Over +120, under -140)
Washington State: 6.5 wins (Over +100, under -120)
Cal: 5 wins (Over -120, under +100)
Arizona: 5 wins (Over +100, under -120)
Arizona State: 5 wins (Over +115, under -135)
Colorado: 3.5 wins (Over +130, under -150)
Stanford: 3 wins (Over +100, under -120)
USC: 9.5 wins (Over -188, under +152)
Washington: 9.5 wins (Over +118, under -144)
Oregon: 9.5 wins (Over +100, under -122)
Oregon State: 8.5 wins (Over +130, under -160)
Utah: 8.5 wins (Over +104, under -128)
UCLA: 8.5 wins (Over +116, under -142)
Washington State: 6.5 wins (Over +114, under -142)
Cal: 5.5 wins (Over +118, under -148)
Arizona State: 4.5 wins (Over -160, under +128)
Arizona: 4.5 wins (Over -144, under +118)
Colorado: 3.5 wins (Over +138, under -170)
Stanford: 3.5 wins (Over +152, under -188)
I'm just happy we are talking Cal football! Go Bears!
FWIW the computer rankings are generally in agreement. FPI has us at 51st in the country with an expected 5.6-6.4 record (outright favored in 6 games), and SP+ has us at 54th and going 5.1-6.9 (favored in 5). Funny thing is that both rankings are around 20 spots higher than the preseason rankings last year, but the records are almost the same… The schedule is just so rough it keeps the record down.
Bill Connelly's preview spoke highly of our transfers and noted that most of our roster will be back next year. He ended on a high note: "Still, I'm far more optimistic about Wilcox's future than I was when last season ended. If the new pieces stick, and new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital can click with one of two sophomore transfers at quarterback -- Ben Finley (NC State) or Sam Jackson V (TCU) -- then we might witness the start of a mid-tenure turnaround this fall."