SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, Sporting Alert – The 2016 college football season kicks-off on Friday with just one reasonably low-key contest, but the crave for some hard-hitting rivalry is bound to attract a sizable audience.
The lone game on the schedule for Friday night’s season opener is the clash between California and Hawaii at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, starting at 10:00 PM ET.
Live television broadcasting will be on ESPN, with additional live streaming on WatchESPN as well.
The Golden Bears finished last season with an 8-5 overall record and won three of their last four games, including the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, which ended 55-36 in their favour over Air Force.
In contrast, the Rainbow Warriors did not enjoy the best of schedule last campaign – finishing the term with a 3-10 record.
Hawaii won two of its opening three games, but then dropped nine in a row and failed to trouble the scoreboard in two of those battles.
Cal and Hawaii have split their four previous encounters, but the Rainbow Warriors took the last meeting 21-7 in 1994 in Berkeley.
Friday night’s game is the first college football contest in Australia since BYU played Colorado State in Melbourne in 1987. It is also the first college football game ever to be played in Sydney, with Melbourne host another game in 1985.
Oddsmakers expect Cal to dominate this contest, as they currently have the Golden Bears listed as 20-point favorites, while the game’s total is sitting at 64.
LOOKING AHEAD
In the meantime, after Friday night’s game, Hawaii will face a very difficult trip at Michigan, on Saturday, September 3, while California is at San Diego State next, on Saturday, September 10.
California vs Hawaii
ANZ Stadium | Sydney, Australia
TV: ESPN – Allen Bestwick (Play-By-Play), Mike Bellotti (Analyst),
Warren Smith (Sideline Reporter)
Cal Radio: KSFO 560 AM/Cal IMG Sports Network/TuneIn – Joe Starkey
(Play-By-Play), Mike Pawlawski (Analyst), Todd McKim (Sideline Reporter)
Cal Student Radio: KALX 90.7 FM – Glenn Borok (Play-By-Play)
SiriusXM Radio: Sirius/XM (Channel 84)
Live Audio: TuneIn
Live Video: WatchESPN
Live Stats: cal.statbroadcast.com
Series History: Tied, 2-2
Last Meeting: Hawai’i 21, at Cal 7 (9/17/94)
First Meeting: at Hawai’i 14, Cal 0 (1/1/34)
Current Win Streak: Hawai’i, 1
