Radford Highlanders vs California Golden Bears Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 1

California put up 115 points in its opener behind a bench scorer who made 6 of 8 threes, and Radford arrives in Berkeley after a turnover-filled loss at San Francisco.

The Matchup

Radford visits California on Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, where the Golden Bears are a 15.5-point favorite with a total of 156.5, on ACC Network Extra. Both teams opened on Monday. California won a shootout at home. Radford lost on the same coast it plays on tonight.

California finished 22-12 last season, scoring 78.2 points a game and allowing 73.3, and its opener was an offensive flood. The Bears beat Adams State 115-86, and Adams State plays in Division II, so the opponent deserves a mention. The shooting does not need one.

Michael Cooper scored 24 points off the bench and made 6 of 8 three-pointers, Sammie Yeanay scored 21, Nojus Indrusaitis scored 20, and Jordan Ross handed out 9 assists. California's scoring comes from everywhere, which makes it hard to guard for a full game.

Radford finished 16-16 last season, scoring 81.4 a game and allowing 78.8, and the Highlanders can score. Their opener at San Francisco showed the other side. Radford lost 76-62, Frederik Erichsen scored 12 points with 7 rebounds, and the guards gave the game away in stretches. Ja'Corey Robinson and Mathieu Grujicic each turned the ball over 6 times. Against a team that wants to run, live-ball turnovers become layups in a hurry.

Key Factors

Ball security decides whether Radford hangs around. California does not need help scoring, and Robinson and Grujicic handed San Francisco extra possessions all night on Monday. If that pair settles down, Radford's offense is good enough to trade baskets. If the turnovers repeat, this spread gets covered in transition, in bunches.

The trip is the second factor. Radford flew from Virginia to San Francisco for Monday's game and stays in the Bay Area for this one, which beats flying home and back, but it is still a road team living out of a hotel against a home team that has not left its own gym. California's bench just produced its leading scorer, and fresh shooters late in games are how spreads like this one get covered.

The counterpoint is that California's opener proved its offense against a Division II team, and Radford is a real step up. The Highlanders scored 81.4 points a game last season, and Erichsen gives them a frontcourt scorer who can slow a game down. If California's shooting cools to something normal, Radford has enough offense to stay inside the number.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.