This Saturday, the California Golden Bears (5-4) host the Syracuse Orange (6-3) at California Memorial Stadium in a crucial ACC showdown. Kickoff is slated for 3:00 p.m. ET on The CW.
In their first season as members of the ACC, the Golden Bears are just one win away from bowl eligibility. Fresh off a victory over Wake Forest, Cal looks to keep the momentum rolling against a Syracuse squad hungry to bounce back after a tough road loss to Boston College.
With a 3-3 record in the ACC, the Orange hit the road for the second straight week, facing a Cal team eager to make its mark in the conference and punch its ticket to bowl season.
Syracuse vs. California Betting Preview
All Syracuse vs. California odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Cal -2 - Spread
Cal -10 - Moneyline
Syracuse +285, Cal -360 - Over/Under
57 points - Game time
Saturday, Nov. 16, 3:00 p.m. ET - Location
California Memorial Stadium | Berkley, CA - Predicted Weather at Kick
55 degrees, cloudy, 5 mph winds - How To Watch
CW
Cal originally opened as a 6.5-point home favorite, but that number has steadily climbed. It’s reached as high as -10 but currently sits at -9.5. The total has also risen since it opened at 53.5. It now sits at 57.5, the highest number it has touched since the opening line.
Syracuse’s Winning Probability
According to CFN’s FPM, the Orange have a 46.8% chance of defeating the Golden Bears on Saturday. If the win probabilities hold, Syracuse would finish the season at 7-5, which is a step in the right direction for this program under Fran Brown in his first season.
- at Cal: 46.8%
- vs. UConn: 85.9%
- vs. Miami: 27%
Cal’s Winning Probability
According to the FPM, Cal has a 53.4% chance of defeating Syracuse on Saturday.
If the win probabilities hold, the Golden Bears would finish with a record of 7-5, their highest win total since 2019, when they won eight games, the most under Justin Wilcox during his tenure.
- vs. Syracuse: 53.4%
- vs. Stanford: 83%
- at SMU: 25.1%
Prediction for Syracuse vs. California
With three games left, Syracuse has a chance to improve their bowl standing and an outside shot at a New Year’s Day bowl. To make it happen, they’ll need to tighten up a defense that has occasionally faltered behind their explosive offense. Heading into this matchup with Cal, the Orange bring the 39th-ranked scoring offense and 27th-ranked total offense, powered by the nation’s fourth-ranked passing attack.
Cal, meanwhile, counters with the 51st-ranked scoring offense and 41st in total yards. Their passing game ranks 12th nationally, but struggles in the run game and pass protection have created hurdles.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season With CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Both teams are playing with urgency. Syracuse will look to bounce back after their defensive struggles against Boston College, while Cal fights to maintain its bowl hopes. The 3:00 p.m. ET kickoff neutralizes some of Cal’s West Coast advantage, and Syracuse’s solid pass defense could prove pivotal against the Bears’ aerial assault. With both teams relying heavily on the pass, penalties and turnovers could swing the outcome.
This game features two determined programs, and it’s shaping up to be a down-to-the-wire battle.
At -10, the spread feels a little steep for the Golden Bears. I’ll take the Orange to cover out West.
Prediction: Cal 31, Syracuse 27
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