California Golden Bears vs Syracuse Orange Picks and Predictions February 1st 2025

Syracuse Searching for Road Redemption

The Syracuse Orange (9-12, 3-7 ACC) are in desperate need of a win as they continue their West Coast trip on Saturday against the Cal Golden Bears (11-10, 4-6 ACC) in Berkeley, California.

Syracuse opened its road swing with a 70-61 loss to Stanford on Wednesday, marking its third consecutive defeat. Despite the loss, head coach Adrian Autry may have found a new spark for his struggling offense: Jaquan Carlos.

Carlos, a Hofstra transfer, came off the bench to tie his season-high with 16 points against Stanford. The point guard had started Syracuse’s first 14 games before shifting to a reserve role, but his energy and scoring ability could earn him more minutes moving forward.

“We got off to a slow start and I just tried to come in and bring energy to uplift,” Carlos said postgame.

Autry echoed that sentiment, stating, “He’s had a rough start a little bit, but the last couple of weeks he’s steadied the ship for us.”

The Orange, however, need more than just a hot hand off the bench to turn their season around. J.J. Starling, the team’s leading scorer at 17.9 points per game, struggled mightily against Stanford, finishing with just seven points on 3-of-16 shooting. It was only the second time in eight games since returning from a broken hand that Starling failed to score in double figures.

Syracuse enters Saturday’s contest with a 1-5 road record and is looking to avoid its fourth consecutive loss.

Cal’s Injury Struggles Could Open the Door for Syracuse

The Cal Golden Bears had been on a roll, winning three straight games, before their momentum came to a halt in a 76-65 loss to SMU on Wednesday.

Head coach Mark Madsen was forced to adjust on the fly, as Cal played without its two best players:

• Andrej Stojakovic (hip injury) – The team’s leading scorer at 18.9 points per game missed his third straight game.
• Mady Sissoko (concussion protocol) – The team’s top rebounder and defensive anchor was also unavailable.

“They killed us on the glass,” Madsen said after the loss. “We were missing (Sissoko), we were missing (Stojakovic) … and that hurt us. They outrebounded us by 11.”

Despite the injuries, Jeremiah Wilkinson (14 points) and Joshua Ola-Joseph (12 points) stepped up offensively against SMU. However, the absence of Stojakovic and Sissoko could leave Cal vulnerable inside and on the perimeter.

The Golden Bears return home, where they have been strong this season (9-3 overall, 3-1 in ACC home games). However, it’s unclear if Stojakovic or Sissoko will be available to face Syracuse, which could be a major factor in this matchup.

Key Matchups to Watch

J.J. Starling vs. Cal’s Perimeter Defense

If Stojakovic remains out, Cal will have to rely on Jeremiah Wilkinson and Jaylon Tyson to slow down J.J. Starling. If Starling can bounce back from his rough shooting night at Stanford, Syracuse could have a major advantage.

Jaquan Carlos vs. Cal’s Backcourt

Carlos provided a much-needed spark against Stanford, but can he do it again? If he plays aggressive and continues to make an impact off the bench, he could be the difference-maker Syracuse needs.

Rebounding Battle

Cal struggled without Mady Sissoko, getting outrebounded by 11 against SMU. If Syracuse can dominate the glass, it could control the pace of the game and limit Cal’s second-chance points.

What’s at Stake?

For Syracuse, a win would snap a three-game losing streak and provide much-needed momentum heading into the final stretch of the ACC season.

For Cal, bouncing back at home—even without key players—would reaffirm its recent strong form and keep it in the hunt for a postseason berth.

Final Prediction

With Stojakovic and Sissoko’s availability uncertain, Cal’s depth will be tested against a Syracuse team desperate for a win. If J.J. Starling can shake off his slump and Jaquan Carlos continues his strong play, Syracuse has a real chance to steal a win in Berkeley.

Final Score Prediction: Syracuse 72, Cal 68

Find Out How Momentum and Midseason Shifts Impact the Ever-Changing College Basketball Championship Odds

Conclusion

Syracuse is looking for redemption after a rough loss to Stanford, while Cal hopes to rebound from its own defeat despite injury concerns. With both teams in need of a win, expect a gritty, hard-fought battle in Berkeley.

Can the Orange snap their losing streak, or will Cal protect its home court once again? All eyes will be on Saturday’s showdown.