The California Golden Bears (-6.5) are heading east to face their in-conference foe Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action live on Pac-12 Networks.
Betting Preview: California Golden Bears at Oregon State Beavers
In this Saturday Pac-12 game, California is projected as the favorite and is currently giving up 6.5 points. The Golden Bears are also receiving -270 moneyline odds while the Beavers are +210. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 59.5 points. If California falls behind early, it’ll probably result in a worthwhile live betting opportunity.
The betting odds have shifted slightly from when they were initially posted. The line opened at 7 while the game’s over/under was placed originally at 59.
The Golden Bears are down 3.1 units so far and 1-4-1 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have recorded an O/U mark of 1-4.
The Beavers are down 2.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 2-4 ATS and own an O/U record of 5-1.
The Golden Bears have gone 3-3 straight up (SU), including 0-3 SU against conference opponents. The Beavers are 1-5 SU overall and are also 0-3 SU in conference play.
The Golden Bears look to bounce back after a 37-7 loss to UCLA last week in which Brandon McIlwain completed just 22-of-40 passes for 168 yards and two interceptions. Patrick Laird (94 yards on 17 rush attempts, one TD) led the ground attack. Vic Wharton III (five receptions, 35 yards) and Laird (four catches, 13 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Oregon State just dropped a 56-37 game to Washington State two weeks ago. As a group, the Beavers collectively completed 18-of-26 passes for 221 yards. Conor Blount went 15-for-21 for 172 yards while Jack Colletto was three-of-five for 49 yards. Jermar Jefferson (138 yards on 24 rush attempts, four TDs) and the signal-caller Blount (19 yards on 11 carries) led the running game while Trevon Bradford (eight receptions, 68 yards) and Timmy Hernandez (six catches, 92 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
California has run the ball on 52.3 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 48.2 percent across possessions in conference play. Oregon State has a rush percentage of 59.0 percent, and has kept it on the ground 65.6 percent of the time when facing Pac-12 opponents. The Golden Bears have rushed for 178.8 yards/game (including 177.7 per game against Pac-12 opponents) and have eight scores on the ground this year. The Beavers are logging 212.0 rush yards per game (211.7 in conference) and have 17 total rushing TDs.
The Golden Bears offense has tallied 214.5 yards/contest through the air overall (226.7 per game versus conference opposition) and has eight passing scores so far. The Beavers have put up 241.8 pass yards per contest (169 in the Pac-12) and also have eight total pass TDs.
Defensively, California appears to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 164.3 yards and throw for 169.8 yards per game. The Oregon State defense has allowed 271.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 269.5 yards per game to opposing runners. The Golden Bears are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.23 to opponents, while the Beavers have given up a whopping 9.17 ANY/A.
Offensively, McIlwain has put up 398 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 56 percent of his 78 attempts with two passing scores and four interceptions. McIlwain’s got a 2.85 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 2.59 over the last two outings.
Conor Blount has managed to complete 70-of-105 passes for 872 yards, six TDs and one INT for Oregon State. His ANY/A stands at 7.13 for the year and 5.46 over his past two games.
When these two schools met a year ago, California knocked Oregon State off by two touchdowns 37-23.
California Golden Bears vs. Oregon State Beavers Betting Pick
SU Winner: Oregon State, ATS Winner: Oregon State, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The California defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks nine times this year. Oregon State has recorded five sacks.
- Oregon State has lost six fumbles in 2018 while the California offense has lost eight.
- The Golden Bears offense has produced three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Beavers have put up six such plays.
- The California defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Oregon State has given up five such plays.
- The California offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Oregon State has created 18 such runs.
- The Golden Bears defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Beavers have given up 19 such runs.
- The O/U for Oregon State’s last match was set at 65. The over cashed in the 56-37 loss to Washington State.
- Over its last three matches, Oregon State is 0-3 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three matchups, California is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for California’s previous game was set at 53.5. The under cashed in the team’s 37-7 defeat to UCLA.
- California has averaged 4.9 yards per rush attempt over its past three games and 4.4 over its last two.
- Oregon State has averaged 4.4 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.3 over its past two.
