2022 California Golden Bears Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions

Joe Hedrick Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

2022 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS BETTING ODDS, PREDICTIONS, PREVIEW

The Golden Bears finished the 2021 season 5-7 SU and had a losing record in conference play for the 12th consecutive season. Justin Wilcox will return for his sixth year as head coach (26-28) and sees potential as Cal lost five games by a touchdown or less in 2021. That may be a head coach being optimistic because the Golden Bears return just eight starters from last season.

With so many starters gone Cal has some work to do. Starting quarterback Chase Garbers is gone, but Jack Plummer (864 YDS, 7 TD, 0 INT) comes in from Purdue as a solid veteran replacement. Christopher Brooks (RB) has transferred to BYU, so Damien Moore (100 ATT, 517 YDS, 6 TD) is expected to be the go-to back. Wide receiver Jeremiah Hunter returns (21 REC, 388 YDS, 1 TD) and should be a down field threat. The defense lost key players as well but should be good to go thanks to the transfer portal.

Cal needs to win one more game than last season to cover their win total of 5.5 (-115). Their schedule is no easy task, but still manageable. The Golden Bears should start off with back-to-back wins with games against UC Davis and UNLV. After that, things get a bit dicey for Cal. A win over Arizona week four also looks good, but they will need to win one of two road games against Washington State and Colorado. If they manage that then they still need to clean up at home against Stanford and UCLA to end the season. To many new pieces and too little room for error to back the Golden Bears here. Best bet is to take the under 5.5-win total (-115).

Best Bet: Under 5.5 Wins (-115)

Updated on 04/24/2024

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2022 CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS SCHEDULE

Sat., Sept. 3 - vs. UC Davis
Sat., Sept. 10 - vs. UNLV
Sat., Sept. 17 - at Notre Dame
Sat., Sept. 24 - vs. Arizona
Sat., Oct. 1 - at Washington State
Sat., Oct. 15 - at Colorado
Sat., Oct. 22 - vs. Washington
Sat., Oct. 29 - vs. Oregon
Sat., Nov. 5 - at USC
Sat., Nov. 12 - at Oregon State
Sat., Nov. 19 - vs. Stanford
Fri., Nov. 25 - vs. UCLA

WIN TOTAL ODDS

Over 5.5 (-115)
Under 5.5 (-115)

**Cal enters the 2022 season looking to reach a bowl game after winning just five games in 2021. (Getty)**

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS ODDS TO WIN PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP

+6000

Unless you think Cal is finally ready for a breakout season, I would not back this bet. Twelve straight losing seasons in conference play should be enough to stay away from this one. There are far better teams in this conference to back here.

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS ODDS TO WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

+50000

It will be a long while before the Golden Bears find themselves in a National Championship game, if ever. A loss week three in South Bend is almost guaranteed and should take away any small chance they may have had. Take your money elsewhere or find a charity to donate it to.

CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS 2022 HEISMAN CONTENDERS & ODDS

Jack Plummer (QB) +20000

Jack Plummer finished last season with 864 YDS, 7 TD, and 0 INT. He is a solid veteran quarterback, but I’m not sure he has the necessary talent around him to have a Heisman caliber season. Plummer is a running threat as well which helps the stat sheet, but again, not enough play makers around him for this kind of season.