The UCLA Bruins open their season with a trip to the island to take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
Let's dive into my UCLA vs Hawaii prediction.
UCLA vs Hawaii Prediction
- UCLA vs Hawaii Prediction & Pick: Hawaii +14.5
My college football Week 1 UCLA vs Hawaii best bet is on the Rainbow Warriors to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at FanDuel, according to ourlive college football odds page.
UCLA vs Hawaii Odds
| UCLA Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14 -115 | 52 -105 / -115 | -575 |
| Hawaii Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14 -105 | 52 -105 / -115 | +425 |
- UCLA vs Hawaii Point Spread: UCLA -14 (-115) · Hawaii +14.5 (-105)
- UCLA vs Hawaii Total: Over/Under 52
- UCLA vs Hawaii Moneyline: UCLA -575 · Hawaii +425
UCLA vs Hawaii Preview
UCLA Betting Preview: Goodbye Kelly, Hello Foster
With Foster now serving as head coach and Bieniemy calling the plays, UCLA is likely going to feature a rush-heavy attack.
TJ Harden returns after averaging 5.3 yards per carry and scoring eight touchdowns in 2023. While he was solid, he had a PFF rushing grade of just 76.3 and isn't much of a bruiser, averaging only 2.5 yards per carry after contact.
The offensive line returns three starters and 101 career starts, which is a plus considering that unit ranked 38th in Offensive Line Yards last season. The Bruins added a couple of Power 4 transfers, so there's no reason they shouldn't be able to open up running lanes for Harden on Saturday.
Ethan Garbers was pretty efficient as a passer in the six games he started. He ranked in the top 25 in EPA/Pass Attempt and Positive Play Percentage, per Sports Info Solutions.
He'll have all three of his top receivers back, which should make the UCLA offense somewhat dangerous.
The one thing about Garbers is he's a little limited as a deep-ball passer. He completed only seven deep passes and had a 68.3 PFF passing grade on throws over 20 yards in the air.
Former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has moved on to USC after working miracles with a Bruins defense that finished 15th in EPA/Play Allowed.
They blitzed a ton last year — 42% of the time — and that should continue under new defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, who was promoted from defensive line coach.
UCLA returns only five starters and only 40% of its pressures from last season, so there should be some drop-off in its defensive numbers.
Hawaii Betting Preview: A Potent Offense Remains
Hawaii looked pretty sloppy in its opening game against Delaware State. The Rainbow Warriors threw for only 203 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per play against what's projected to be one of the worst FCS teams in the country.
Hawaii's receivers dropped three balls and looked a little disjointed on offense. With that said, there were 30 mph winds, which likely affected the passing game.
There's also the possibility Hawaii went vanilla to keep things off of film for UCLA.
It was also the first game of the season, and Hawaii does have a really good quarterback for Chang's Run-and-Shoot offense in Brayden Schager.
This is now his third year in the system, and he's shown steady improvement throughout his career.
In his first year as the starter, he averaged only 5.8 yards per attempt and had a PFF passing grade of 63.6. Last season, though, his yards per attempt rose to 6.7, while his PFF passing grade increased to 76.7. He also doubled his touchdown mark.
However, Hawaii may be without its best receivers for this game. Steven McBride, who recorded over 1,000 yards receiving last season, could also miss the year due to eligibility issues.
There's some shuffling going on in the offensive line as well. The Bows returned three starters up front, but they have a lot of guys playing different positions, which typically doesn't bode well against a team that's going to apply a lot of pressure.
Outside of the defensive line, Hawaii is really good in its back seven. All four starters return in the secondary, and it has one of the best linebacking corps in the Mountain West.
The key in this game is whether or not it can stop UCLA's heavy rushing attack with a weak defensive line. The Bows ranked 67th in Defensive Line Yards last season but are likely going to drop after losing four starters from last season.
My UCLA vs Hawaii Pick & Prediction
The biggest question mark for UCLA is whether or not it can finish off scoring drives. The Bruins were incredibly poor once they crossed the 40-yard line last season, ranking 123rd in Finishing Drives.
With a new offensive coordinator, there could be some growing pains early on for Garbers and Co. — especially if they can't beat Hawaii over the top.
On the other side, Hawaii's offense has to improve from its opening game against Delaware State. High winds and a comfortable lead after the first quarter likely allowed the Warriors to go super vanilla to keep things off tape.
Schager has consistently improved in Chang's offense, and now that he's in Year 3 of learning the system, he should make a big leap with UCLA losing a lot of its front seven.
Hawaii won three of its last four games last season — all as an underdog. It was clear that Chang's offensive scheme really started to take shape. I have a hard time believing this team has significantly regressed after one game in 30 mph winds.
Unlike last year, the Bows don't have a massive amount of travel from Week 0 to Week 1. They get to stay on the island and will be hungry for an upset.
Pick: Hawaii +14.5
How to Watch UCLA vs Hawaii Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu, HI |
| Date: | Saturday, Aug. 31 |
| Kickoff Time: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS |
UCLA vs Hawaii Betting Trends
- UCLA has generated 35% of the tickets but has landed 57% of the money.
- The under has taken 57% of bets and 65% of the cash.
UCLA vs Hawaii Weather
