The Saint Joseph’s Hawks travel to Haas Pavilion for a matchup with the California Golden Bears in the second round of the NIT.
It’s the last second-round game to tip off this weekend, going live at 9:00 pm ET on ESPNU.
Since both teams are trending toward the Under, my Saint Joseph’s vs. California predictions and college basketball picks and predictions expect a low-scoring contest tonight.
Saint Joseph's vs California prediction
Who will win Saint Joseph's vs California?
Saint Joseph's: The Saint Joseph’s Hawks will pull off the upset (+200) on the road.
Steve Donahue’s squad is on a roll, winning 15 of its last 19 games to rank 12th in momentum (Haslametrics). The Hawks are the higher-rated team over the last month according to the analytics, checking in at 59th in BartTorvik compared to 88th for the California Golden Bears.
The A-10 has performed admirably in postseason tournaments this far, whereas the ACC hasn’t lived up to its billing (see: VCU vs. North Carolina). That mitigates some of the concern about Saint Joe’s stepping up in competition and evens the playing field.
Saint Joseph's vs California best bet: Under 149 (-110)
Both teams are trending toward the Under: Saint Joe’s is 9-16 O/U in its last 15, while Cal is 2-5 O/U in its last seven.
The Hawks rank 32nd in adjusted defensive efficiency, 14th in effective field goal defense, and 24th in 3-point defense since February 20. Their perimeter defense will come in handy against a jumpshot-reliant Cal team that doesn’t grab its own misses (318th in OREB).
The Bears check in at 56th adjusted defensive efficiency during that span and will limit a poor-shooting Hawks offense (30.8% from deep) that doesn’t get to the stripe (13.8 free throws per game).
COVERS INTEL: Cal has cashed the Over four times since February 4, but all four of those contests were against offense-first teams with defenses ranked outside the Top 100 in adjusted efficiency.
Saint Joseph's vs California same-game parlay
If all you did was bet Saint Joseph’s against the first-half spread, you’d be one heck of a profitable bettor. In their last 25 games, the Hawks are 22-3 ATS in the first half.
Donahue’s squad is more likely to cover the spread if they can establish their defense-first identity. That’s especially true for games played away from home, where they’re 11-7 ATS and 4-14 O/U.
Saint Joseph's vs California SGP
- Saint Joseph's first half +3
- Saint Joseph's +5.5
- Under 149
Our beyond the arc SGP: Lock down, box out, rebound
Cal is miserable on the boards, ranking 255th in rebounding percentage (48.6%). Justice Ajogbor and Derek Simpson both play heavy minutes and stand an increased chance of contributing on the glass in an advantageous matchup.
If the Hawks’ stingy defense can make a jump-shooting Cal offense (266th in proximity) miss, the Bears may not be able to rely on free points. Saint Joe’s allows only 11.1 free throws per game (17th nationally) and avoids fouling in general (eighth).
For a team that has dominated the first halves of games, it’ll need to implement its style immediately on the road.
Saint Joseph's vs California SGP
- Justice Ajogbor Over 5.5 rebounds
- Derek Simpson Over 5.5 rebounds
- Saint Joseph's first-half moneyline
- Cal team total Under 77.5
Saint Joseph's vs California odds
- Spread: Saint Joseph's +5.5 | California -5.5
- Moneyline: Saint Joseph's +200 | California -245
- Over/Under: Over 151.5 | Under 151.5
Saint Joseph's vs California betting trend to know
Saint Joseph's has cashed the Under in 10 of its last 13 games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Saint Joseph's vs. California.
How to watch Saint Joseph's vs California
| Location | Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA |
| Date | Sunday, March 22, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 9:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPNU |
Saint Joseph's vs California key injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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