California, Hawaii open college football betting season

The California Golden Bears' head coach Sonny Dykes, right, and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors' head coach Nick Rolovic, left, accept gifts of surfboards from New South Wales state Minister for Trade and Tourism, Stuart Ayres, in Sydney, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, ahead of their opening college football game of the season in Sydney on Saturday. The game, with Cal designated as the home team, will be the first college football game played in Sydney and the first significant American football game played in Australia since 1999. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors' players Marcus Kemp, left, Steven Lakalaka and Makan Kema-Kaleiwahia, right, take advantage of the sites around Sydney to take photos at the Opera House, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, ahead of their opening college football game of the season against the California Golden Bears on Saturday. The game, with Cal designated as the home team, will be the first college football game played in Sydney and the first significant American football game played in Australia since 1999. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Cal Bears players practice during a training session at a field in Sydney Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. Cal will play Hawaii in the first college football game of the 2016 season at the College Football Sydney Cup on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

It’s winter Down Under, but at the tail end of summer here it’s finally time for football, the season that matters most to bettors and Las Vegas sports books.

The curtain is raised on college football as California faces Hawaii at 7 p.m. (PT) Friday. The game in Sydney, Australia, will be televised by ESPN and has attracted heavy betting all week. The Golden Bears are 20-point favorites, after most books opened the line at 21.

“That’s a big number for Cal to be covering,” William Hill sports book director Nick Bogdanovich said. “There are some sharp guys on the underdog side.”

The Bears are breaking in a new quarterback. Davis Webb, a graduate transfer from Texas Tech, takes over for Jared Goff, the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams. Goff led Cal to an 8-5 record last season.

Sonny Dykes, an architect of high-powered passing offenses, opens his fourth season as Bears coach. Nick Rolovich, the Warriors’ first-year coach, replaces Norm Chow.

“I like Rolovich. Chow proved to be a surprisingly poor fit there,” The Gold Sheet handicapper Bruce Marshall said. “Rolovich will be slowly adding elements of the old ‘Red Gun’ attack under (former coach) June Jones. It’s such an odd game with the Aussie venue, but I have a slight pick on Hawaii. I’ll give that a shot.”

Las Vegas handicapper Eric Parkila (ParkilaSports.com) recommends betting the game over the total of 64.

“California loses several star wide receivers, but the biggest offensive question mark will be at quarterback. Webb should be a solid replacement for Goff in Dykes’ system,” Parkila said. “Defense has long been a concern for the Golden Bears, and their experience is slim with just five returning starters.

“Hawaii scored only 17.6 points per game last season, but that offense is expected to be improved with the new coach. It helps drawing a weak California defense in the opening week.”

The Warriors return running back Paul Harris, who rushed for 1,143 yards last season, fifth-year senior quarterback Ikaika Woolsey and their top three receivers.

“Both teams should look to put on a show for the fans Down Under,” Parkila said, “and the scoring should happen early and often.”

Contact sports betting reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow on Twitter: @mattyoumans247