WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 2009
Detroit Titans (0-0) vs. California Golden Bears (1-0)
The No. 13 California Golden Bears will host the Detroit Titans in Wednesday in the first ever match up between these two teams.
The Golden Bears edged out the Murray State Racers 75-70 in their season opener on Monday. Cal has four starters returning from a 22-win 2008 season, and figure to compete with Washington for the Pac 10’s top spot. The Golden Bears led the nation in 3-point accuracy last season at 42.7 percent, and every player who contributed to their 210 made 3-pointers, returns this season. Second-year head coach Mike Montgomery, will rely heavily on senior All-Pac-10 guards Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher. Randle returns as the Pac-10’s No. 2 active career scorer (1,184 points) and No. 2 active career assist man (374).
Detroit will get tested early as they kick off their season at the Cal this Wednesday. They have posted back-to-back 7-23 seasons and haven’t finished above .500 since 2003-04 (18-13). The Titans traveled to Spain in the off-season, where the team went 5-0. Returning guard Eulis Stephens did well in Spain and averaged 16.3 points per game on the tour. Indiana transfer Eli Holman and Central Michigan transfer Chase Simon are expected starters for Wednesday’s contest. Junior forward Xavier Keeling is back after missing the final 23 games last year with a broken foot. He averaged 12.4 points and 6.6 rebounds and shot 48.3 percent from the field in seven games.
The odds makers currently have California at –18 point favorites.
The Titans will have their hands full and must contain Cal’s three-point shooters if they hope to keep this one close.
Cal wins and covers the spread easily.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE NCAA BASKETBALL HANDICAPPING PICKS
Matt Martz is a sports writer for the Bakersfield Californian located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.