Cal Golden Bears vs Kansas State Wildcats, Picks and Prediction, Thursday, November 13, 2025
Use Code WWWC California Golden Bears (3-0) will travel to Kansas State Wildcats (2-0) on Thursday. In the Sports Illustrated preseason ratings, Kansas State was No. 55 and California was No. 119.
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Madsen's team is off to a strong start
The California Golden Bears are led by head coach Mark Madsen who is looking for a breakthrough after going 13-19 and 14-19 in his first two seasons. Last season Golden Bears finished 110th in the KenPom ratings.
This season, California is off to a 3-0 start after taking down Cal State Bakersfield (87-60), Wright State (77-67), and Cal State Fullerton (93-65). Additions from the transfer portal have started early with the team led by Dai Dai Ames (21.7 ppg), John Camden (16.7 ppg), and Justin Pippen (14.3 ppg, 7 rpg). Ames played for Kansas State two seasons ago, starting 16 games. After the first three games to start this season, California is 83rd in the KenPom ratings, 92nd in offensive rating, and 73rd on the defensive end.
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Kansas State is coming off two dominant victories
Leading the Kansas State Wildcats is head coach is Jerome Tang, who is 63-42 now in his fourth season. The team finished 16-17 last season and finished 65th in the KenPom ratings. The Wildcats are 57th to start this season, 59th in adjusted offensive efficiency, and 61st according to defense.
The Wildcats routed UNC Greensboro 93-64 and Bellarmine 98-71 in their first two games. Memphis transfer P.J. Haggerty (25 ppg, 7 apg) has led the team so far followed by Akron transfer Nate Johnson (15.5 ppg, 8 rpg, 6.5 apg) and Monmouth transfer Abdi Bashir Jr (15.5 ppg). Haggerty averaged 21.7 points for Memphis last season and 21.2 points per game for Tulsa the season before.
Cal vs Kansas State Predictions
Cal vs Kansas State ATS Pick and Prediction:
- California +6.5 (4 units)
Both teams have looked strong out of the gate, but this will be the biggest test yet that either side has had. California has only faced the 324th strongest schedule, and Kansas State's schedule is 344th according to KenPom. I think this will be a competitive matchup, and California's roster, led by Ames, Camden, and Pippen is underrated. Grab the dog and the points.
Cal vs Kansas State Total Prediction:
- Under 162.5 (4 units)
Although both teams have been putting up big offensive numbers early on, they haven’t faced much defensive resistance yet. I don't think either team is as great offensively as they have shown so far, and although I do expect this matchup to land somewhere in the mid-150s, I anticipate a competitive game that won’t get quite wild enough offensively to push the total any higher.
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