Cal vs. Hawaii Predictions & Odds Tonight: 2025 Hawaii Bowl Best Bet and Expert Picks
My Cal vs. Hawaii predictions target the Rainbow Warriors to continue their remarkable turnaround at home in tonight's Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu.
Hawaii enters as tonight's only major North American sporting event as the 1-point betting favorite over Cal in this Christmas Eve college football classic. Kickoff from Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN). Letβs break down the best value plays in the fifth bowl game featured in our college football predictions this week.
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π Cal vs. Hawaii prediction: 2025 Hawaii Bowl
Don't miss the rest of our college football picks for every bowl game.
| Best bets | Odds | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii -1 | -110 via bet365 | ββββ |
| Cam Barfield 2+ TDs | +550 via bet365 | βββ |
Hawaii -1 (-110) ββββ
The job Timmy Chang has done at Hawaii is almost impossible to fathom, with the Rainbow Warriors putting together their most successful season since 2019 under Nick Rolovich, who's serving as Cal's interim coach for this game. Hawaii's been especially impressive at home, with a 6-1 record ATS.
🌺 The most Hawaiian Hawaii Bowl
One really fun factor with this year's Hawaii Bowl is just how many ties there are to the island. Not only is Hawaii playing in the game, but head coach Timmy Chang is the school's all-time leading passer. Rainbow Warriors starting QB Micah Alejado is also from Hawaii.
Hawaii is well represented with Cal, too. Golden Bears interim head coach Nick Rolovich didn't just coach the program to 28 wins in four seasons at the helm; he was the Rainbow Warriors' starting QB in 2001.
Additionally, his quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, is also from Hawaii, with Rolovich's ties to the island being a significant reason why JKS transferred to Cal. JKS even holds the Hawaii state record for passing yards.
With Cal dealing with several key injuries, Golden Bears QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele could struggle to keep up with one of the most well-rounded Group of Six teams.
It doesn't hurt that Hawaii has one of the best kickers in the country, too, in Kansei Matsuzawa, aka the "Tokyo Toe."
Score prediction: Hawaii 30, Cal 27
💡 More college football predictions
Want more college football betting advice? Check out all of our college football analysis and expert predictions for every bowl game.
π Best Cal vs. Hawaii TD pick: Hawaii Bowl
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Cam Barfield, RB, Hawaii: 2+ TDs (+550) βββ
It might seem strange to back a running back to score twice when Hawaii has a rich history of throwing the ball and operating the run-and-shoot offense. However, with star receiver Jackson Harris in the transfer portal after scoring a team-high 12 TDs, I think Chang could lean on his run game more tonight.
Cal has two NFL-quality cornerbacks, which is why the Golden Bears' pass defense has been much better than its run defense. So Hawaii will likely look to take advantage and try to gash a defense ranked No. 103 in EPA per rush.
Plus, the Rainbow Warriors love to incorporate their running backs in the passing game, which is why Cam Barfield has three receiving TDs this season. He's also taken on a larger role in recent games due to his big-play ability. And he's a dangerous kick returner, averaging 29.7 per return this year with a score.
Barfield has racked up the second-most all-purpose yards (872) and TDs (8) on the team this season. Our Philip Wood backs a Golden Bears running back to score twice instead as part of his Cal vs. Hawaii player props.
Our Isaiah Sirois offers three picks to find the end zone in his Cal vs. Hawaii anytime touchdown scorer predictions.
🌈 Rainbow running backs SGP (+390)
Between Cal's inability to stop the run and Hawaii's willingness to involve both its top running backs as pass catchers, I love parlaying Barfield (-110) and Landon Sims (+140) to find the end zone. An SGP at bet365 backing both to score has +390 odds.
π Live Cal vs. Hawaii odds: Hawaii Bowl
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Cal vs. Hawaii opening odds
- Moneyline: Cal -120 | Hawaii +100
- Spread: Cal -1.5 (-110) | Hawaii +1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: Over 54 (-110) | Under 54 (-110)
π Cal vs. Hawaii betting trends
| Cal | Statistic | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| 7-5 | W-L record | 8-4 |
| 6-5-1 | ATS record | 8-4 |
| 5-7 | O/U record | 4-8 |
| 5.1 | Yards per play | 5.6 |
| 5.5 | Yards allowed per play | 5.6 |
| -0.2 | Turnover margin | -0.3 |
| 2-3 | Last 5 games | 3-2 |
| W, 38-35 vs. SMU | Previous result | W, 27-7 vs. Wyoming |
π Top NFL draft prospects for Hawaii Bowl
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| Player | Position | Key stats | NFL draft grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hezekiah Masses, Cal | CB | 5 INTs, 13 PBUs | Round 4-6 |
| Brent Austin, Cal | CB | 13 PBUs | Round 6-UDFA |
| Cade Uluave, Cal | LB | 91 tackles, 11.5 TFLs | Round 6-UDFA |
| TJ Bush Jr., Cal | EDGE | 9 TFLs, 5.5 sacks | Round 7-UDFA |
| Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii | K | 11-for-11 on 40+-yard field goals | Round 7-UDFA |
| Pofele Ashlock, Hawaii | WR | 62 receptions, 704 yards | UDFA |
| Peter Manuma, Hawaii | SAF | 72 tackles, 6 PBUs | UDFA |
πΊ How to watch Cal vs. Hawaii: Hawaii Bowl
- Date: Wednesday, Dec. 24
- Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
- TV: ESPN
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