Delaware State vs. Hawaii Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Brayden Schager, Rainbow Warriors Roll Over Hornets?
The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors will host Delaware State as the final matchup of the Week 0 college football slate. Can Brayden Schager and the Rainbow Warriors start hot as a huge home favorite against an FCS squad? NCAAF handicapper Peter Alexis is here to give his prediction and pick for this FCS vs. FBS matchup between Hawaii and Delaware State.
Peter Alexis - August 22, 2024, 2:30 PM EDT
7 minDelaware State vs. Hawaii Prediction, Pick, Odds: Can Brayden Schager, Rainbow Warriors Roll Over Hornets?
Delaware State will make the long journey to Oahu to take on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Saturday night. The trip got off to a hot start on Tuesday when the team missed the 10-hour flight across the country, and had delay their preparations even further. They face a daunting task to compete with an improved Hawaii offense, and will have their work cut out for them on a short week once they finally get there.
Both teams are coming off of down years entering this game, but one side has a much more positive trajectory. QB Brayden Schager is back for his final season in Hawaii after throwing for 3,500 yards and 26 touchdowns last year. After a rough start, he led the Rainbow Warriors to three wins in their final four games. This unit is fired up for a chance to get back to a winning season and a bowl game after several down years. Meanwhile, Delaware State isn't much to call home about. Not only are they an FCS school taking on a major program, but unlike Montana State who will have a close game against New Mexico this weekend, the Hornets are one of the worst FCS squads in the nation. They went 1-10 last year, and were blown out in the majority of their contests. That trend is unlikely to change on Saturday night in Honolulu against this offense.
Hawaii opened as a 27.5-point favorite in July, before flying all the way up to -39.5 as the game approaches. The moneyline odds do not exist, as the Hornets are a massive FCS underdog at more than five touchdowns, and it is highly improbable for them to have a shot at winning. Elsewhere, the point total has climbed to 57.5 after starting at 51.5 about a month ago.
NCAAF handicapper Peter Alexis is here to provide his prediction and pick for this opening weekend matchup between Hawaii and FCS Delaware State.
Delaware State vs. Hawaii Start Time, Where To Watch, Odds
- Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024
- Game Time: 11:59 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: Spectrum PPV
Delaware State vs. Hawaii Odds
- Spread: Delaware State -39.5 (-110), Hawaii -39.5 (-110)
- Total Odds: O 57.5 (-110), U 57.5 (-110)
- Moneyline Odds: N/A
Delaware State vs. Hawaii College Injury Report
Delaware State
Questionable: N/A
Out: N/A
Hawaii
Questionable: N/A
Out: N/A
Delaware State vs. Hawaii Prediction
Delaware State is going to have a terrible time trying to put up points. They barely averaged 14 points per game a year ago in an FCS conference, and wound up going 1-10 on the season. They were shut out by Army 57-0, which is similar to how this one should trend. Hawaii isn't exactly a top flight defense, but they only allowed 17 points per game in their final three wins to end the season, and have something to build off of. Besides, playing defense against a low-level FCS opponent is a much easier task as a unit gains experience.
The Hornets will not be able to keep up with the Hawaii offense regardless, especially in the early going when it is moving at full throttle. Brayden Schager is now a veteran in Timmy Chang's system, and showcased his comfortability towards the last season. He threw for over 300 yards in six games last year, and he should fly past 400 in this one if he plays for the majority of the game.
This line continues to fly towards the Rainbow Warriors, reaching 40 in some spots after the opener way back at -28 in July. Bettors have been hammering the Rainbow Warriors, and we typically only see a line move like this in preseason as the oddsmakers don't have a ton of data to go off of, and adjust more based on the flow of money. It is hard to hop on a spread after it moved 12 points, but there is a better way to attack this offering, and that's by targeting the first half. Hawaii is -21 on the first half line, and they should have no problem putting up three+ touchdowns on an FCS defense if they avoid mistakes.
Meanwhile, the total has seen some significant movement during that same period. It has climbed up to 57 from the opener at 51 about six weeks ago. While we don't necessarily want to go against the line movement, we know that the Hornets don't have much offensive production, and nearly all of these points will come from Hawaii. Adding an extra six points is not an insignificant amount, especially in a game where it will come down to when Hawaii steps off the gas in the fourth quarter with the backups. They will likely be up around 49-6 or something similar, and a bet on the total is about whether or not they try to put up the last few scores or not.
With Delaware State's aforementioned travel issues and the likely slow start, Hawaii will have an even easier time getting out of the gate. Schager and the Warriors want to flex their muscles early and show that they are on the path towards being competitive once again. With a win total of 5.5 and coming off of a 5-win season that ended strongly, they will be desperate to return to a bowl game for the first time since 2020. Let's back Hawaii to start hot and score the majority of their points in the first half while Delaware State tries to wake up.
Delaware State vs. Hawaii Pick
- Pick: Hawaii 1H -21 (-115) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds.
College Football Odds
