Hawaii vs UCLA Prediction 8-31-24 College Football Picks

The UCLA Bruins and the Hawaii Warriors meet in week 1 college football action from Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on Saturday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Hawaii vs UCLA Prediction.

UCLA Team Preview

The UCLA Bruins come into the 2024 season hoping that new change brings more of the same as this season is the first under new head coach DeShaun Foster and first in the Big Ten conference for UCLA after finishing last year 8-5 overall including 4-5 in Pac-12 conference play. The Bruins ended the year with a 35-22 win over Boise State in the LA Bowl.

Ethan Garbers will finally get the keys to the UCLA offense with Dante Moore taking off to Oregon and in 11 games last year, Garbers threw for 1,136 yards, 11 touchdowns and just 3 INTs on 67.1% passing. TJ Harden and Keenan Jones will headman the ground attack for UCLA while J. Michael Sturdivant leads the receiving corps and Moliki Matavao will anchor the tight ends. Logan Loya’s also back in the receiving group after leading UCLA with 59 receptions last year.

On defense, the Bruins have a fair amount to replace, especially up front with Laiatu Latu and Gabriel Murphy going pro. Jacob Busic and Devin Aupiu will replace Latu and Murphy on the ends around Gary Smith and Jay Toia at defensive tackle. The Bruins will have to replace Darius Muasau at linebacker, but Kan Medrano and Oluwafemi Oladejo are both back after making up two of the top three tacklers for UCLA last year. The secondary at least filled their voids by way of the transfer portal, but there are still a lot of question marks for the Bruins coming into 2024. UCLA will take on Indiana after this one.

Why the UCLA Bruins will win

• UCLA has won seven of its last eight games against non-conference opponents.
• Hawaii has lost three of its last four games in August.
• Hawaii has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games against non-conference opponents.
• UCLA has covered the spread in each of its last three games against non-conference opponents.

Hawaii Recap

The Hawaii Warriors come into this one starting the year on a high note with a 35-14 win over FCS Delaware State ahead of this matchup with UCLA, but the Warriors were unable to start the year with a cover, missing the spread laying 40.5 points in the opener.

Schager Shines In Opener

Brayden Schager threw for 203 yards and 2 touchdowns on 17 of 34 passing while also rushing for 38 yards and 2 scores. Landon Sims led the Warriors with 58 rushing yards on 10 carries while Pofele Ashlock had a team-high 5 receptions for 81 yards. Dekel Crowdus added 3 grabs for 49 yards and a touchdown while Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala added a pair of receptions for 30 yards and a score.

On defense, Jamih Otis led the Warriors with 11 total tackles including 8 solo tackles and a sack while Jamar Sekona, Wynden Ho’ohuli, Jackie Johnson III and Lesterlaisene Lagafuaina each had a sack as well in the win. Tylan Hines also chipped in a punt return TD for Hawaii in the victory.

Why the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors will win

• The underdog has won four of UCLA’s last five games.
• UCLA has lost three of its last four games as a favorite.
• The underdog has covered the spread in five of UCLA’s last six games.
• UCLA has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games as a favorite against non-AP-ranked teams.

Hawaii vs UCLA Prediction

I’m on the Warriors and the points here. I just think that the Warriors kind of got caught looking ahead a little bit in the opener, which is why things were a little bit closer than expected, but all in all, I still think Hawaii has the chops to hang here.

There are a lot of question marks for me with this UCLA team, and while there’s tape on the Warriors, the extra game also gave them a chance to shake off any rust. I’m not sold personally on Garbers at QB, and catching these points in a game that I think Hawaii competes in, are definitely worth a look. Give me Hawaii and the points.