UCLA Bruins vs California Golden Bears Picks and Prediction - November 25, 2025
Tuesday evening on the college hardwood, and we have a UCLA vs California prediction ready to rock and roll. The Bruins enter this game off an 86-46 destruction of Presbyterian to move to 5-1 on the year. California is also at 5-1 on the year and they come in off a 91-61 home win over Sacramento State. These teams split the two meetings a year ago. Continue reading to see our UCLA vs California prediction.
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Bruins Grab Easy Win Over Presbyterian
UCLA enters this matchup at 5-1, having rolled past Presbyterian with an 86-46 win on November 21. The Bruins dominated from the opening tip, holding the Blue Hose to just 28.6% shooting and forcing 17 turnovers. Skyy Clark was the star, scoring a season-high 22 points while hitting 4-of-7 from deep, and Donovan Dent orchestrated the offense with 12 assists across two games last week. The victory capped a strong bounce-back stretch after their neutral-site loss to Arizona, and Mick Cronin’s group looks sharp heading into San Francisco.
The Bruins have leaned on balanced scoring, with six players averaging double figures. Tyler Bilodeau (Questionable) leads the way at 14.8 points per game, while Dent adds 12.6 points and 6.6 assists, giving UCLA a steady backcourt presence. Eric Dailey Jr. has chipped in 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, and Xavier Booker has been efficient inside, shooting 70.3% from the field. Clark’s perimeter shooting at 45% from three has stretched defenses, and Trent Perry provides another reliable option at 10 points per game. UCLA’s offense averages 77.8 points per game and shoots nearly 50% from the floor, ranking among the nation’s top 60 in efficiency.
Defensively, UCLA has been elite, allowing just 60.3 points per game and holding opponents to 39.3% shooting. Their three-point defense has been particularly stingy, limiting opponents to 27.5%, which has fueled their dominance in recent wins. The Bruins don’t rebound at a high clip, averaging 30.8 boards per game, but their ability to contest shots and force turnovers has made up for it. Against Cal, UCLA’s defensive discipline and balanced scoring will be critical in slowing down the Golden Bears’ hot offense.
Cal Exterminates The Hornets
California also sits at 5-1, coming off a convincing 91-67 win over Sacramento State on November 21. The Golden Bears locked down defensively, holding the Hornets to just 26.9% shooting while forcing 10 turnovers. Chris Bell was the standout, scoring 21 points and hitting three triples, while Montenegrin big man Mladen Ilic grabbed nine rebounds. Justin Pippen added five assists, showcasing his versatility as a floor leader. The win marked Cal’s second straight after a narrow loss to Kansas State earlier in the month.
The Bears have been powered by a trio of scorers: Jaylon Camden at 14.8 points per game, Bell at 15.7 points, and freshman guard D.J. Ames, who leads the team with 18.8 points per game while shooting an impressive 53% from three. Forward Lars Dort has been efficient inside, averaging 10.3 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting nearly 70% from the field. Pippen has been the glue, contributing 12.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game, giving Cal a steady two-way presence. As a team, the Bears average 85.3 points per game and shoot 49.2% from the floor, ranking among the top 65 nationally in efficiency.
Defensively, Cal has been solid, allowing 69.3 points per game and holding opponents to 39.9% shooting. Their perimeter defense has been respectable at 30.6% allowed from three, though rebounding remains a concern at just 33.2 boards per game. The Bears rely on their guards to pressure ball-handlers and contest shots, but their interior defense can be tested by bigger frontcourts. Against UCLA, Cal will need Ames and Bell to stay hot from deep while Pippen controls tempo. If they can match the Bruins’ defensive intensity and limit turnovers, the Golden Bears have the firepower to make this rivalry clash competitive.
UCLA vs California Pick
| # | Handicapper | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Rob Vincilleti | +1,778.00 |
| 2 |  Ross Benjamin | +1,716.00 |
| 3 |  David Hess | +1,326.00 |
| 4 |  Earle Sports Bets | +1,323.00 |
| 5 |  Dan Kaiser | +1,071.00 |
UCLA vs California Spread Pick
- UCLA -8 (4 Units)
UCLA -8 looks like the right side because the Bruins have been locking teams down defensively while finding consistent scoring across multiple options. They’re holding opponents to just 60.3 points per game and limiting them to 39.3% shooting, with their three‑point defense among the nation’s best at 27.5% allowed. That kind of defensive intensity matches up well against a Cal team that relies heavily on perimeter shooting from D.J. Ames and Chris Bell. On the offensive end, UCLA has six players averaging double figures, led by Tyler Bilodeau at 14.8 points per game, and they shoot nearly 50% from the floor, giving them the balance to stretch Cal’s defense.
California has been impressive early, but their rebounding numbers sit at just 33.2 per game, and that weakness could be exposed against UCLA’s physical frontcourt led by Xavier Booker and Eric Dailey Jr. The Bears also allow nearly 70 points per game, which is a tough matchup against a Bruins team that thrives on efficiency and ball movement. With Donovan Dent running the offense at over 6 assists per game and Skyy Clark providing perimeter shooting at 45% from deep, UCLA has the tools to control tempo and wear down Cal over 40 minutes. Laying the 8 points feels justified given the Bruins’ defensive edge and deeper scoring rotation.
UCLA vs California Over/Under Pick
- Under 143 (4 Units)
The Under 143 looks appealing because both UCLA and Cal lean on defensive structure and half‑court execution rather than pace. UCLA allows just 60.3 points per game and holds opponents to 39.3% shooting, with one of the nation’s best three‑point defenses at 27.5% allowed. Cal has been solid too, giving up 69.3 points per game while limiting opponents to under 40% shooting. Neither team rebounds at a high clip, which shortens possessions, and UCLA’s slower tempo combined with Cal’s reliance on perimeter shooting suggests this matchup is more likely to grind than turn into a shootout, keeping the total below 143.
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