Virginia Cavaliers quarterback Chandler Morris (4) passes the ball in the fourth quarter against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

The Virginia Cavaliers (7-1, 4-0 ACC) visit the Cal Golden Bears (5-3, 2-2) in a Saturday afternoon conference tilt in Berkeley, California. The contest at California Memorial Stadium will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's NCAA football odds around the Virginia vs. Cal odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.

No. 15 Virginia won 17-16 (Under 51.5) at the 11.5-point-underdog North Carolina Tar Heels last week and has won 6 consecutive weeks after losing to NC State in Week 2. The last 4 games in that streak have been of the 1-score variety.

The Golden Bears were tripped up by the -6 Virginia Tech Hokies 42-34 (Over 50.5) on Oct. 24. The loss was in double-overtime after California blew a 10-point halftime lead. The Bears rushed for just 39 yards in the game; that marked their lowest total in a single game in 14 years.

UVA and Cal are meeting on the gridiron for the first time.

– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports

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Virginia at Cal odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 6:09 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Virginia -220 (bet $220 to win $100) | Cal +180 (bet $100 to win $180)
  • Against the spread (ATS): Virginia -5.5 (-110) | Cal +5.5 (-110)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 52.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Virginia at Cal picks and predictions

Prediction

Virginia 28, Cal 21

Moneyline

No interest; PASS.

Against the spread

Cal has lost 3 in a row ATS and at home is just 1-5 ATS over its last 6 games.

UVA's struggles running the ball last week figure as due for a reversal against a Bears defense which has weak line analytics and over the last 4 games has coughed up 5.7 yards per rush.

Still, the Wahoos need to be more the squad that knocked off the Florida State Seminoles and Louisville Cardinals and less the one that struggled against lesser foes the last 2 weeks.

But overall, look for more value drives from the UVA offense. More downfield marches and finishing as a plus in turnovers and big plays.

VIRGINIA -5.5 (-110) has value.

Over/Under

The total has gone Under in 8 of Cal's last 11 games and in 6 of Virginia's last 9.

UVA finding success on the ground is key here. These teams play relatively fast when it comes to cranking out plays from scrimmage. And the red-zone play figures to favor the offenses. But the matchup has enough Cavaliers slow-down from a game flow that has the Wahoos out in front and salting a win with its run game.

Tab the UNDER 52.5 (-110) with some slight value.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Virginia Cavaliers at Cal Golden Bears odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Skip Snow, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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