Stanford vs California Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
Rivals Set for annual ‘Big Game’
The 125th Big Game, which takes place Saturday between the Stanford Cardinal and the host California Golden Bears, may be the last for the coaches of both teams.
The losses have piled up for both teams to the point that each comes in at 3-7 on the season. Not since 2015 have both teams entered the Big Game with a winning record.
The Cardinal eked out wins over Notre Dame and Arizona State by a total of three points, but have struggled to be competitive since, losing three games by 98 points.
“This is going to be a battle,” Stanford head coach David Shaw, who is 10-24 in his last three full seasons, told the media. “Our seniors, two years ago, were able to hold that axe. They know what it feels like. We’d love to get that axe back for them.”
The Golden Bears opened the season with three wins in four games but find themselves mired in a six-game losing streak as they try to keep the Stanford Axe, which goes to the winner of the game.
Head coach Justin Wilcox, who is assured of a sixth losing season in six years at the school, fired offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave and offensive line coach Angus McClure following a 38-10 loss to Oregon State, but he might be the next to go.
Let’s check the latest college football odds, stats, injury reports and college football lines for Stanford vs California. We’ve plenty of NCAA football odds for you to consider.
As well explore a variety of other NCAAF odds here to win!
Karty Getting Kicks for Cardinal
Stanford’s top weapon this season might be its kicker, Joshua Karty, who has won three Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week awards, the first to do so in school history.
The junior has been perfect on the season, making all 22 of his extra-point attempts and 14 of 14 field goal attempts, including 10 from 40 yards away or longer.
Carty also handled kickoffs and has generated 36 touchdowns on 46 attempts. The Cardinal have allowed just 14.4 yards per kickoff return, good for fourth in the nation.
In two seasons, Karty has made 82.8% of his field goals and 49 extra-point attempts.
Ott Could be Primed for Big Game
Jadyn Ott’s season got off to a great start with 463 rushing yards in the first four games, including 274 yards vs. Arizona, but it has been tough sledding lately for the freshman.
Despite not surpassing 57 yards on the ground in any of the last five games, Ott is still among the top freshman running backs in the Pac-12 Conference and the country in terms of rushing yards (745) and rushing yards per game (74.5).
Ott, who has also recorded 35 receptions for 219 yards, should relish facing the Stanford rush defense, which ranks 128th in the FBS (222.2 yards per game). That number has ballooned to 303 yards per game allowed in the last three contests.
Stanford vs California Game Injuries
Stanford vs California Head-to-Head
The Golden Bears reclaimed the axe with a 41-11 victory last season at Stanford, which has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series. The Cardinal, who have won six straight games in Berkeley, lead the all-time series 65-48-11, including 29-21-6 in road games.
Stanford vs California Game Information
- Game: Stanford (3-7) vs California (3-7)
- Location: California Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, CA
- Day/Time: Saturday, Nov. 19, 5:30 p.m. ET
- Stanford vs California Live Stream: ESPN
Stanford vs California Betting Lines
Stanford vs California Picks & Prediction
The Golden Bears have been installed as five-point favorites according to the NCAAF lines. California is 5-5 against the spread this season while Stanford is 2-8.
The California Golden Bears are listed at -200 in our Vegas NCAAF lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Golden Bears, you have a chance to win $50. The Stanford Cardinal are +170, offering a chance to win $170 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives California a 66.67% chance to win, with Stanford 37.04%.
