UCLA at Hawaii odds, picks and predictions

The UCLA Bruins (0-0) and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (1-0) meet Saturday at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (CBS/Paramount+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UCLA vs. Hawaii odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

The Bruins play their 1st game in a new era, as UCLA joins the Big Ten Conference this season. While this isn’t a conference game, obviously, it’s a historic day for the program nonetheless.

It’s also a new era with former Bruins tailback DeShaun Foster taking over as the coach. He has just 9 starters returning, but QB Ethan Garbers is one of them, along with RB T.J. Harden.

The last time UCLA was in action it was facing a Mountain West team, too, as the Bruins topped Boise State 35-22 in the LA Bowl Dec. 16, 2023. UCLA cashed the Under in 10 of 12 games in the regular season in 2023.

We already got a look at Hawaii in Week 0, as the Rainbow Warriors paddled FCS Delaware State 35-14 in the islands. Hawaii came nowhere near covering as a 40.5-point favorite as the Under (54) held on. QB Brayden Schager threw for 203 yards and 2 TDs while running for 2 more scores.

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UCLA at Hawaii odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 4:35 p.m. ET.

• Moneyline (ML): UCLA -650 (bet $650 to win $100) | Hawaii +450 (bet $100 to win $450)
• Against the spread (ATS): UCLA -14 (-110) | Hawaii +14 (-110)
• Over/Under (O/U): 53.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)

UCLA at Hawaii picks and predictions

Prediction

UCLA 34, Hawaii 17

UCLA (-650) will set you back 6½ times your potential return, and that’s way too much risk for not enough reward. Even as part of a multi-leg parlay, including the Bruins is just way too expensive.

Even though Hawaii (+450) struggled with Del State last weekend, and it led just 21-14 heading into the final quarter despite being a 40.5-point favorite, nothing is for certain, and UCLA is way too expensive.

PASS, and look to the spread instead.

Back UCLA -14 (-110) lightly, as Harden could have a solid afternoon in the islands. Hawaii +14 (-110) allowed Del State to run for 104 yards last week, totaling 11 first downs.

We obviously haven’t seen the Bruins play yet, but we did see the Rainbow Warriors, and they were not impressive at all despite an eventual 21-point win. If UCLA can manage to contain the dual-threat Schager, this one could get away from Hawaii in a hurry.

The UNDER 53.5 (-115) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at most.

The total went low in Hawaii’s opener, and the Under cashed in the most recent meeting Aug. 28, 2021, in Pasadena, a 44-10 win by UCLA with a total of 67.

And, as mentioned, UCLA hit the Under in 10 of 12 regular-season games in 2023, while it went 6-1 in the previous 7 outings on the road.

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