UC Davis vs Hawaii Picks, Predictions, Latest Odds for Big West Opener
By Sascha Paruk in College Basketball
Published:
- Our predictive models give Hawaii a 79.3% win probability against UC Davis on Thursday
- I expect a high-scoring game that chases for over betors
- See my UC Davis vs Hawaii picks and predictions, plus the latest odds and betting splits for this Big West opener
The UC Davis Aggies (5-2, 1-2 away, 3-4 ATS, 4-3 O/U) and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (6-2, 6-1 home, 4-3 ATS, 2-5 O/U) open their Big West seasons tonight in Honolulu at 9:00 pm PT/12:00 am ET. The game will be broadcast live on Spectrum Sports from the Stan Sheriff Center.
The notorious “Hawaii trip” is always challenging for visiting mainland teams and the latest UC Davis vs Hawaii odds reflect the Rainbow Warriors’ discernible home-court advantage. , setting up an intriguing late-night betting opportunity where home-court dynamics could trump raw metrics.
UC Davis vs Hawaii Odds
The Rainbow Warriors are currently laying 8.5 to 9.5 points in the UC Davis vs Hawaii odds. On the moneyline, Hawaii’s best price is a short -375 (at BetMGM). The Aggies are as long as +340 (at DraftKings ).
The total is a uniform 146.5 across he board currently. DraftKings has the best over price (-105) while FanDuel has the best under price (also -105).
Hawaii’s -375 moneyline price carries a 78.95% implied win probability. UC Davis’ +340 odds carry just a 22.73% implied win probability.
Odds commentary and analysis as of 12:45 pm ET. The lines in the interactive table, above, will update automatically with the best-available price for each market if the college basketball odds shift sufficiently before tip-off.
UC Davis vs Hawaii Picks, Predictions & Best Bets
The infamous cross-Pacific journey to Honolulu has historically proven treacherous for visiting teams, and the Aggies’ concerning 1-2 road record amplifies these concerns against a Hawaii squad that transforms into a different entity at the Stan Sheriff Center. But the spread has ballooned to nearly double-digits, and that’s too many points, regardless of travel time.
ATS Best Bet: UC Davis +9.5 (-115) at BetMGM
The Aggies possess the offensive firepower to hang around in what should be a competitive conference opener. Nils Cooper has been absolutely surgical this season, averaging 17.7 points per game while shooting an otherworldly 70.4% from the field – the best mark in the Big West. His 76.2% two-point percentage demonstrates his ability to consistently find high-percentage looks inside the arc. Cooper’s efficiency is complemented by sharpshooter Connor Sevilla, who contributes 14.1 points per game while connecting on 45.2% of his three-point attempts.
UC Davis’s superior ball security (1.10 assist-to-turnover ratio vs 1.02) and three-point shooting advantage (35.1% vs 28.7%) give them multiple paths to stay within the number. The Aggies are 3-1 ATS as non-home underdogs this season, showing they perform well when getting points, even if they’re not winning outright.
Over/Under Pick : Over 146.5 (-110) at Fanatics
Both rosters feature dynamic scorers capable of pushing this total northward. Complementing Cooper’s interior dominance on the UC Davis side, Connor Sevilla provides perimeter firepower with 14.1 points per contest and a lethal 45.2% three-point accuracy.
Hawaii counters with their own offensive weapons, led by center Isaac Johnson’s 15.9 points per game and nearly perfect 94.1% free-throw shooting. Guard Dre Bullock adds consistent scoring with 12.3 points nightly. The combination of Cooper’s hyper-efficiency and Johnson’s ability to draw fouls and convert at the charity stripe creates multiple pathways to an elevated scoring environment.
Both teams rank in the upper tier of Big West offensive efficiency, suggesting the total represents solid value.
UC Davis vs Hawaii Public Betting Splits
The betting marketplace reveals overwhelming public confidence in Hawaii’s home-court advantage, creating interesting dynamics across different bet types. An examination of current wagering patterns shows decisive public backing for the Rainbow Warriors while suggesting nuanced perspectives on game flow.
Moneyline action heavily favors Hawaii, with 95.49% of all bets representing 93.26% of total handle backing the home team. This remarkable consensus indicates both recreational bettors and sharp money align on Hawaii’s victory chances, supporting our primary recommendation.
The spread market tells a more complex story. While convinced Hawaii will win, bettors show faith in UC Davis’s competitive ability, with 59.24% of spread bets and 70.26% of money backing the Aggies to cover. This suggests the public expects a Hawaii victory but believes the margin will remain manageable.
Regarding the game total, public sentiment strongly supports our Over selection. A substantial 76.12% of bets, backed by 72.09% of total money, favor the Over. This consensus reflects widespread expectation that both teams’ offensive capabilities will produce an elevated scoring environment, aligning perfectly with our analytical assessment.
UC Davis vs Hawaii: Head-to-Head Statistical Breakdown
The statistical disparity highlights UC Davis’s superior schedule strength while showcasing Hawaii’s dominant home production. The Aggies’ #63 RPI reflects quality victories against tougher competition, yet their 1-2 road record exposes vulnerability away from home. Conversely, Hawaii’s +16.9 point differential demonstrates their ability to control games at the Stan Sheriff Center, outscoring opponents by significant margins.
A critical matchup emerges in the paint, where Hawaii’s Isaac Johnson (7.9 RPG, second in Big West) faces UC Davis’s foul-prone Niko Rocak (3.6 fouls per game, first in conference). Johnson’s rebounding dominance coupled with Rocak’s fouling tendency creates an advantageous scenario for the Rainbow Warriors’ interior game. Johnson’s elite 94.1% free-throw shooting becomes particularly valuable if Rocak accumulates early fouls, potentially forcing UC Davis into less experienced defensive rotations.
The efficiency metrics favor UC Davis in shooting percentages, yet Hawaii’s superior scoring output (82.1 vs 78.1 PPG) and stifling defense (65.2 points allowed) suggest their home environment maximizes performance beyond raw shooting ability. This statistical profile supports both our Hawaii moneyline selection and Over recommendation, as both teams possess the offensive firepower to reach elevated totals while Hawaii’s home-court advantage provides the edge for victory.
Managing Editor
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.