Is this the year the Colorado Buffaloes finally get their acts together after their last three coaches combined to go 31-79 with four double-digit loss seasons since 2006? Many feel that to be the case, so a game against a poor Hawaii Warriors program, even out on the islands, seems like it shouldn't be all that big of a deal.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Sharp money though, is on Hawaii at the moment. Even though 71 percent of the spread bets in this game as of Monday morning have come in on the Buffs, they’ve dropped from -8 down to -7.5, a sure sign that the Warriors have a legit chance at winning this game in the eyes of the oddsmakers.
The total has dropped just a bit as well, falling from 57.5 down to 56.5.
KEY MISMATCH
Remember Max Wittek? He was one of the many quarterbacks at USC who hoped to be the next in a long line of Heisman Trophy caliber signal callers for the Trojans. Instead, he got on the field sparingly in two seasons with the Men of Troy, throwing for just 600 yards and three TDs against six picks, and he ultimately transferred to Hawaii.
Wittek sat out last season, and though he was out of sight and out of mind, we know that he has tremendous talent for an offense like this one. Add in new offensive coordinator Don Bailey, who led Idaho State last season to 348.1 passing yards per game, the best in the FCS, and you've got what could be a nightmare here for Colorado.
The Buffaloes were No. 116 in scoring defense last year, and time and time again, the top passing teams in the Pac-12 just shredded this unit, even when the offense was keeping up.
Do keep in mind that Ken Crawley is a four-year starter, so he won't be taken care of, but the depth of this CU secondary is surely going to be tested against a Hawaii receiving corps which will put four on the field most of the time.
KEY STAT
3 – The number of interceptions which the Buffaloes had all of last season, good for second to last in the nation. Only Buffalo had fewer interceptions with two, and Colorado faced over 120 more passing attempts than the Bulls did.
BETTING ANGLE
The over is always a trendy play in Hawaii games, particularly of the late-night variety.
However, don't be so certain that this is going to be another game which flies past the total. The oddsmakers know they have been burned to the tune of a 17-7 record for over backers in UH's last 24 home games, and they have surely inflated numbers here as a result.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
We're going to ride with the sharp money here with Hawaii. We're not all that sure that Wittek is going to be able to win this game with a poor offensive line in front of him against a defense which is certainly talented, albeit raw.
The Buffaloes have some continuity at quarterback in Sefo Liufau for the first time in quite some time, and that should help them out as well.
They'll win this game, but the Buffs aren't going to cover that eerie 7.5-point spread.
Colorado 30, Hawaii 24
The college football lines for this Friday game surfaced at BookMaker before anywhere else on the internet. The Colorado Buffaloes are favored at -8 alongside a total of 57.5. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker's live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook! The matchup between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Hawaii Warriors is set for Friday, September 4, 2015 at 1:00 a.m. ET at Aloha Stadium. The contest will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
