Syracuse Basketball: Orange against California latest betting odds and key metrics

Syracuse basketball, despite having lost two straight and six of its past seven games, is a small betting favorite against California at home on Wednesday night. At the time of this writing, FanDuel had the Orange as a 5.5-point betting favorite over the Golden Bears, with the over/under set at 148.5 points.

The 'Cuse (13-11 overall, 4-7 in ACC) and Cal (17-7 overall, 5-6 in ACC) will tip off at 7:00 pm EST on Wednesday evening, with ESPNU airing this Atlantic Coast Conference contest. Former Syracuse basketball small forward Chris Bell, who is having a solid senior year for the Golden Bears, will be back at the JMA Wireless Dome for the first time since transferring to California.

Bell helps lead a Cal offensive attack that, collectively, shoots 37.3 percent from beyond the arc, good for No. 34 nationally. That will challenge an Orange perimeter defense that has struggled in the 2025-26 season in terms of defending the 3-point line.

Key metrics for California at Syracuse basketball on Wednesday night.

Syracuse basketball
NCAA NET ranking: No. 71 overall
Home record: 10-4
Neutral-site record: 1-3
Road record: 2-4
Quadrant-one record: 1-7
Quadrant-two record: 1-2
Quadrant-three record: 4-2
Quadrant-four record: 7-0
KenPom rating: No. 70 overall
KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency: No. 82
KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency: No. 64

California
NCAA NET ranking: No. 58 overall (also 1-0 against a non-Division I program)
Home record: 13-3
Neutral-site record: 1-0
Road record: 2-4
Quadrant-one record: 4-5
Quadrant-two record: 0-2
Quadrant-three record: 5-0
Quadrant-four record: 7-0
KenPom rating: No. 69 overall
KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency: No. 85
KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency: No. 61

Statistically speaking, the Orange and the Golden Bears are relatively even in a lot of categories, including points scored and given up, rebounding, assists, steals and turnovers committed. Cal is a better 3-shooting team and holds a large advantage at the charity stripe.

Undeniably, Syracuse basketball is struggling. There's a lot of negativity and tension within the fan base. It's disappointing yet understandable. That being said, I'm hopeful that the 'Cuse players and coaches can block out the noise and grab a win over the Golden Bears.

While Cal is a quality foe, this is a winnable game for the Orange, but it must put two consistent halves together, which has proven an issue for SU for much of the 2025-26 campaign.