Hawaii vs. UCLA CFB Prediction
Will the UCLA Bruins cover as a large home favorite on Saturday afternoon when they open their season against Hawaii at 3:30 p.m. ET? Or is there a better play on the board for this opening-season matchup at the Rose Bowl?
Game Snapshot
301 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (+17.5) at 302 UCLA Bruins (-17.5); o/u 67.5
3:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, August 28, 20201
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Game Notes
Hawaii’s team is officially moving into Ching Field for the 2021 season. Late last season, the famed Aloha Stadium was deemed unsafe to hold fans for at least the next three years. As such, the Rainbow Warriors are renovating the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in order to better fit a full stadium of fans. The complex will now host around 9,000 fans, up from its previous capacity of 3,500. The first game at the “new” stadium will be Sept. 4th against Portland State.
UCLA Bruins Game Notes
UCLA junior QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (undisclosed) has returned to practice. Finally, Thompson-Robinson (6’1/205) has officially returned to practice, moving and throwing fluidly and going through drill like he never missed a beat. He was reported to have had a strong set of spring practices, so there weren’t any preexisting injury issues that have been reported heading into camp. Whatever the undisclosed ailment was, it is now in the rearview mirror for the junior signal caller, as DTR now turns his attention to preparing for UCLA’s Week 0 home tilt against Hawaii.
Hawaii vs. UCLA Betting Prediction
UCLA has had a rough offseason, which included suspending senior wide receiver Delon Hurt pending the outcome of a sexual assault case in which he faces two felony charges. He isn’t the only Bruin facing criminal charges, as starting offensive guard Paul Grattan Jr. faces three charges resulting from a bar fight. Granted, Grattan Jr. has been allowed to remain with the team but the situation was a distraction nonetheless.
Hawaii should be a considerable underdog today at the Rose Bowl, but keep in mind the Rainbow Warriors won two games against Pac-12 opponents in 2019 and second-year coach Todd Graham spent most of his coaching career in the Pac-12. He should have his team prepared for UCLA this afternoon.
College Football Week 1 Prediction: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors +17.5