California Golden Bears

The California Golden Bears topped all 136 FBS teams on the moneyline in 2025: one unit on every priced game returned 11.2 units. Almost all of it came as the underdog; against the spread Cal was only 5-7.

The best moneyline in FBS

Cal went 7-5 and covered 5 of 12. Eleven of the 12 games carried a moneyline; the Texas Southern game did not. One unit on the Bears in those 11 returned 11.2 units, the best of all 136 FBS teams.

Underdog wins at long prices

As the underdog Cal won four of seven and returned 12.2 units, again first among the 131 FBS teams that were underdogs at least once. The wins: 27-14 over Minnesota at +140, 28-24 at Boston College at +180, 29-26 at Louisville at +800 as an 18.5-point underdog, and 38-35 over SMU at +400. The Louisville and SMU games made November 2-2 straight up and 10.0 units up. Away from home the Bears returned 7.49 units over six priced games; one FBS team did better on the road.

Favored, and short

We would be slow to lay points with this team. Cal was favored five times and covered once, 34-15 at Oregon State. Only 16 FBS teams covered less often as favorites. The misses included 0-34 at San Diego State at -13.5 and 10-31 at Stanford at -4.5, and a 21-18 win over North Carolina that fell short of an 8.5-point line. Laying the price in the four priced favorite games cost 1.0 unit.

Spread and total

October was the empty month: 0-3 against the spread and 1-2 straight up. The total split 6-6.

The season ended in the Hawai’i Bowl, a 31-35 loss at Hawai’i.

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