Arizona football opens as 2-score underdog for Homecoming game vs. Cal

The Arizona Wildcats have still not won a game in more than two years, but when it comes to covering big spreads they’re playoff-worthy. And they’ll get another chance to show how great teams cover in their Homecoming matchup with Cal.

The UA has been installed as a 12-point underdog for Saturday’s home game against the Golden Bears, according to DraftKings SportsBook. It will mark the sixth time that Arizona (0-8, 0-5 Pac-12) has been an underdog by double digits this season.

Arizona, which is coming off a 41-34 loss at USC in which it was a 21.5-point underdog, is 4-1 against the spread as a double-digit dog. The exception was a 34-16 home loss to UCLA on Oct. 9 in which the Bruins kicked a late field goal to cover the 16-point spread.

Cal (3-5, 2-3) comes to Arizona Stadium on a 2-game win streak, beating Colorado and Oregon State at home. The Bears are 5-3 ATS, covering their last three games and all three road games in 2021, but they haven’t beaten Arizona since 2009 and haven’t won in Tucson since 2004.