Cal vs. Arizona score predictions

The Arizona Wildcats wrap up the regular season Saturday when they host the California Golden Bears.

Arizona (23-7, 13-4) has already clinched a share of the Pac-12 title, but can win it outright with a victory over the Bears or a USC loss to UCLA.

Cal enters Saturday at 8-22 overall and 2-15 in the Pac-12, dead last in the conference standings.

KenPom gives Arizona a 97 percent chance of winning Saturday, with a projected score of 84-64.

Here is what we think will happen. Be sure to leave your predictions in the comment section below.

Ryan Kelapire — Arizona wins 88-71

Really, the only question here is: how much will Arizona win by? I’m thinking the Wildcats have a 20-plus point lead in the second half, before they ease up and let Cal make the game look more respectable than it actually was.

Personally, I am hoping the game is a rout so Tucson native Talbott Denny can get some run in his final home game in McKale.

Alec Sills-Trausch — Arizona wins 88-65

The regular season finale is upon us and lucky for us, it was a pretty mundane... just kidding, holy crap what a year it’s been and we’re only three days into March! Anyways, California is abysmal and Arizona may have turned a corner with an assist from the NCAA, FBI, and ESPN. It’ll also be the last game for UA seniors, as well as Deandre Ayton, Allonzo Trier, and possibly Rawle Alkins, making this emotional for a lot of people. Savor this team when you fan Wildcat fans, it could be choppy waters going forward.

Jason Bartel — Arizona wins 85-58

Senior day with an outright Pac-12 title on the line and some players and coaches a bit more relaxed than they were on Thursday night against a brutal team like Cal?

Give me all the blowout with walk-ons playing the last two and a half minutes and see you in Vegas.

Matt Sheeley — Arizona wins 82-55

I was going to use the exact score that Jason predicted. I guess there’s just something aesthetically pleasing about 85-58.

I firmly believe this will be the last game at McKale for the entire starting five — Dusan Ristic, Jackson-Cartwright, Ayton, Trier and Alkins. Those five are going to want to put on a show and they’ll have their chance against a team that has set themselves apart as the worst offensive team the Pac-12 has seen in quite a while. I got the ‘Cats in a big time blowout.

Scott Moran — Arizona wins 74-61

With all the emotional momentum the Wildcats should have at their back, I think it’s a safe bet that Arizona beats the worst team in the Pac-12 pretty easily. The only reason my scoring margin is a little narrower is because this Arizona team has played down to its competition a lot this season.

That doesn’t change the fact that this team is likely starting to peak at the perfect time, this is the final home game for many members of the team, and that UA has a massive talent edge over Cal.

Barring a catastrophe Arizona will finish 24-7.

Christopher Boan — Arizona wins 78-54

Cal is a hot dumpster fire of a team, that has a coach with a great name (Wyking Jones) but no discernible talent. Arizona should get some walk-on minutes in garbage time, in a resounding send-off on Senior Day.

Steve Apter — Arizona wins 72-53

Having lost 15 of their last 16 games, Cal is wrapping up a disappointing season despite modest expectations. While things are looking up for its predecessor Cuonzo Martin who could get potential NBA lottery pick Michael Porter Jr. in a live game for the first time this weekend at Missouri, a loss for Cal this weekend nearly ensures that interim-turned-head coach Wyking Jones will guide the Bears to a single-digit win total for the first time in over 20 years.

Lone returning starter Kingsley Okoroh is tied with fellow seven-footer Deandre Ayton for 44th in the nation with just under two blocks per game, and Kentucky transfer Marcus Lee have given Cal decent front court play. However, Cal hasn’t come close to replacing the departed 55.7 points/g after all six of their top scorers left, including arguably their most prolific recruit Ivan Rabb to the NBA draft, and promising freshman guard Charlie Moore as a transfer to Kansas.

A pleasant surprise for Cal has been the play of 6-foot-7, 210-pound freshman Justice Sueing, who’s second in the team in scoring and rebounding and is their best perimeter defender.

The Bears can actually be tough on defense: Sueing (1.6/g) and Don Coleman (1.5/g) are top-5 in the conference in the steals, and Okoroh offers elite rim protection. Expect some lulls, especially in the second half, in what has been an emotional week for the Arizona program. Cal won’t be able to keep up with Trier and company.