How good does it feel to have college football back?! Week 0 kicks off with Iowa State vs. Kansas State in Dublin and wraps up with a matchup between Stanford and Hawaii in Honolulu.
Check out the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks. Plus, you’ve still got some time to add more futures to your portfolio so be sure to check out our Power Four Conference Previews below.
Stanford Cardinal vs. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors NCAA Football Insights
Matchup Information – Stanford vs. Hawaii – August 23
- Venue & Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu, HI)
- Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
- Kick Off: 7:30 p.m. Eastern
- Broadcast: CBS/Paramount+
Stanford vs. Hawaii Betting Odds
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline, one of our favorite online sportsbooks, as of August 21, 2025 at 1:45 p.m. eastern. Sign up today with Promo Code FREE250 for a 50% deposit bonus up to $250 as well as 100 Free Spins at the online casino.
Spread
- Stanford +2.5 (-115)
- Hawaii -2.5 (-105)
Moneyline
- Stanford +110
- Hawaii -130
Total
- Over 50 (-120)
- Under 50 (+100)
Stanford actually opened as a slight favorite a few months back, but the market has since flipped with Hawaii now sitting as the short home favorite heading into Week 0. That swing says a lot about how little optimism surrounds the Cardinal right now.
There isn’t much for Stanford fans to hang their hats on. The ACC media unanimously picked them to finish last in the conference, and frankly, that feels about right. The program has bottomed out with four straight 3-9 seasons, going just 10-35 against FBS opponents over that span. After Troy Taylor’s exit, the school turned to Frank Reich on an interim basis. Reich brings plenty of NFL experience, but how that translates in the college game — and with this roster — remains a big question.
On the flip side, Hawaii enters Year Four under head coach Timmy Chang. The Rainbow Warriors only managed a five-win campaign last season, but they were more competitive than the record suggests. Three of their losses came by three points or fewer, including a tight one against UNLV, who went on to play in the Mountain West title game. That kind of experience, combined with continuity on the staff and roster, gives Hawaii a stability edge over a Stanford team still trying to find its footing.
Stanford vs. Hawaii NCAA Football Picks and Predictions
Best Bet: Hawaii Moneyline (-130) BetOnline
Hawaii brings back much of the same roster from last season. They didn’t make a splash in the transfer portal, but that lack of turnover gives them a level of continuity Stanford simply doesn’t have. The biggest storyline is redshirt freshman quarterback Micah Alejado, who takes over full time after sitting most of last year. His only start came in the season finale against New Mexico, throwing 37-of-57 for 469 yards and five touchdowns. Not a bad debut.
The Rainbow Warriors already had one of the more efficient passing attacks in the country, ranking 26th nationally a year ago. With Alejado stepping in, there’s reason to believe it can climb even higher. Wideout Pofele Ashlock is back healthy after a banged-up 2024, and remember — he had 83 catches in 2023. Hawaii also added reinforcements in the form of Kentucky transfer Brandon White and Stanford transfer Jackson Harris, who now gets the chance to line up against his former team.
Defensively, Hawaii returns seven starters, including what might be their best linebacking group in years. Jamih Otis, Logan Taylor, and Jalen Smith form a trio that should make it tough for Stanford to generate explosive plays.
The Cardinal, meanwhile, are in rebuild mode. They lost 20 players to the transfer portal, including two quarterbacks and several linemen on both sides of the ball. Last season, Stanford’s defense allowed at least 34 points in seven different games, and there’s no quick fix in sight. Interim coach Frank Reich just announced Oregon State transfer Ben Gulbranson as the starting QB, but he only started four games in the past two years with the Beavers. To make matters worse, top freshman receiver JonAnthony Hall has missed most of camp and may not be available Saturday.
When you put it all together, Hawaii has the continuity, the quarterback spark, and the home-field edge. Stanford has name recognition, but far too many moving parts to trust in Week 0. Expect a close, high-energy game in Honolulu, with the Rainbow Warriors pulling it out. At a short number, the moneyline at -130 looks like the play.
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- #22 Iowa State vs. #17 Kansas State Picks
- SEC Football Preview
- Big Ten Football Preview
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- ACC Football Preview
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