Temple Owls vs. California Golden Bears

Betting Odds

Point Spread: Temple Owls vs. California Golden Bears (-6)
Game Total Line: (TBA)
(wagering lines available at 5Dimes)

The Temple Owls from the Atlantic 10 take on the California Golden Bears out of the PAC 10 in this East Coast-West Coast showdown on Thanksgiving night in the Old Spice Classic. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (ET) from the HP Field House in Orlando and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Temple once again starts the season with high expectations for not only winning the Atlantic 10, but for making a deep run come NCAA tournament time in mid-March. The Owls opened their 2010-2011 campaign with a solid 62-56 win over Seton Hall. Defense was the key to the victory as they held the Pirates scoreless for a nine minute stretch in the first half while tearing off a 17-0 run. Junior guard Ramon Moore led the Owls with 14 points and junior forward Scootie Randall pulled down nine rebounds. Temple covered as a 4 ½ point home favorite and there was no total line on the game.

The Owls followed this up with 82-49 pasting of Toledo at home in a game they were favored by 29 points. The total went ‘over’ the 128 point line. This time it was Temple’s offense that did most of the damage with five players scoring in double-digits led by junior forward-center Michael Eric’s 14 points.

California is also aiming high this season after last year’s impressive run to the second round of the NCAA tournament where the Golden Bears lost to the eventual champion Duke 68-53. They took on Cal State Northridge in their home opener last Tuesday and came away with an 80-63 victory as a 15 ½ point favorite. The total went ‘over’ the 140 ½ point line. Cal had a slow start out of the gate in this one; trailing 37-36 at the half, but an early second half run put the Bears ahead for good. Junior guard Jorge Gutierrez has a career-high 18 points and senior center Markhuri Sanders-Frison added 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

This past Saturday, the Golden Bears knocked off New Mexico 89-64 in a game that closed as a ‘pick’. The total went ‘over’ the 140 ½ point line. Cal once again overcame a sluggish start to pull away in the second half. This time junior forward Harper Kamp had the career day with 25 points and Gutierrez bested his mark from the game before with 20 points to help lead the Bears.

Temple is 9-1 straight-up in its last 10 games and 8-1-1 against the spread. The total has stayed ‘under’ in six of its last nine games overall.

California is 8-2 both SU and ATS in its last 10 games. The total has gone ‘over’ in six of its last 10 games overall.

This game will come down to the Owls’ experience against the Golden Bears youth. Cal will be hard- pressed to slow down Moore as well as junior guard Juan Fernandez, Temple’s top returning scorer from last year, for the full 40 minutes so stick with the team from the East Coast to come out on top in this one.
Take the Temple Owls -6 at Betus.