The Washington State Cougars just missed out on a first round bye in the Pac-12 tournament. Now they will look to pick up a victory over the California Golden Bears, who struggled for the majority of the season but still cannot be overlooked. In Wednesday’s college basketball predictions, we look at California vs Washington State in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament.
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California vs Washington State Betting Pick
This game will be played at T-Mobile Arena at 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.
Why Bet On Washington State:
✅ These teams have gone in very different directions late in the season, with Washington State winning three straight and four of their last five. Cal, meanwhile, has lost two straight and four of their last five. Expect the in-form Cougars to take care of business against the Golden Bears to move onto the second round in the Pac-12.
✅ Washington State has a legitimate advantage when it comes to the two offenses in this matchup. The Cougars averaged nine points per game more than the Golden Bears on the season. Look for them to press that advantage in this game, as Cal will continue to struggle to put points on the board.
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✅ Washington State swept the season series against California, and should be able to go three for three against them with a win here. Cal ranks 412th in the country in assists per game, and their lack of effective ball movement will not do them any favors as the Cougars move on and send the Bears home for the offseason.
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears have had a rough season, going 5-15 in Pac-12 play this year. Their offense has been the source of their woes this season, as the Golden Bears have averaged just 63 points per game for the season. Here, Cal will look to change that and live to fight another day in the Pac-12 tournament.
For Cal to have offensive success against Washington State, they will need to do a better job of passing the basketball. The Golden Bears average just over 10 assists per game, which is not acceptable for a Power 5 program with any real aspirations. If they cannot make passes that set them up in dangerous areas, the Golden Bears are in danger of going one and done in Las Vegas.
Washington State Cougars
Washington State came up a game short of a bye in the Pac-12 tournament, but will be favored to advance past Cal in the first round anyway. The Cougars won three straight games to end the regular season, and finished the regular season with a 20-point win over a quality Oregon team. Now, the Cougars will look to avoid an upset and beat the Golden Bears to kick off their Pac-12 tournament.
For Washington State, the key to this game is going to be focus and concentration. They need to make sure that they are getting quality shots, even if they are expected to win wire to wire in this game. That and avoiding defensive lapses in concentration will decide whether or not things go according to plan for the Cougars on Wednesday night.