The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors are heading to the mainland to start the season for the first time in five years. Hawaii will play the Massachusetts Minutemen in one of the stranger non-conference games of 2017. These teams met at the tail end of the 2016 season and Hawaii ended up winning a barnburner. It was a needed victory as it assured the Rainbow Warriors of a spot in a bowl game and led to the team getting its first bowl win in a decade.
This contest in Week 1 will go down Saturday, August 26, 2017, at 6 p.m. ET at McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Hadley, Massachusetts. This game will be broadcast on FS1.
Week 1 College Football Opening Odds at BookMaker.eu
Hawaii PK
Massachusetts PK
Over/Under 62.5
Odds Analysis
Hawaii went 7-7 in former quarterback Nick Rolovich’s first season at the helm of his alma mater. The Rainbow Warriors didn’t cover once as a favorite in 2016, posting an 0-5 ATS mark when oddsmakers believed them to be the better team. Fortunately for a team looking for a fast turnaround like Hawaii, Rolovich was able to rekindle some of the offensive success that the team had when he was the signal caller. That led to the over cashing nine times in 14 games.
Massachusetts continues to have faith in Mark Whipple. Whipple is in his fourth season at the helm of the nascent program and has yet to post a record better than 3-9. Sadly, that’s also the best record that Massachusetts has posted since joining the ranks of the FBS.
At least the Minutemen have been good at covering the number. UMass went 7-5 ATS last season and is 19-17 ATS over Whipple’s three seasons. The over went 7-5 in Minutemen games in 2016.
Last Meeting
Many of the starters from last year’s game are back for this year’s edition, including both quarterbacks. Each quarterback had one of his best games of the year when these teams met in 2016. UMass QB Andrew Ford and Hawaii QB Dru Brown combined to throw for 655 yards and eight touchdowns.
Both running backs had very nice days on the ground too. Marquis Young ran for 117 yards and a score, while Diocemy Saint Juste had 122 yards and a touchdown. Each of these starters returns and will look to have an even bigger impact this time around.
There were only three punts in last year’s game as neither defense could stop the opposing offense. The story should be different this time around though as both defenses return more than half their starters and should be considerably better.
Player to Watch
Hawaii is known more for its passing game than its ground game, but Saint Juste eclipsed 1,000 yards last season and could be primed for an even bigger year. He is the feature back now that the two players he split carries with last season are gone and has the quickness to find holes and break big gains.
Saint Juste will be running behind a big, experienced offensive line. Left tackle Dejon Allen might be the best tackle in the conference and is the key to a unit that led Hawaii to its best rushing performance in more than two decades last year.
The hogs up front will be tested by a Minutemen defensive line with a lot of experience. They need to be able to get to the second level and get their hands on UMass’ linebackers as that unit is the best on this defense.
Free ATS Pick
Hawaii shattered the perception that it can’t win on the mainland last season when it went 3-1 in MWC road games and shocked Air Force in Colorado. The Rainbow Warriors are the more talented team and although the Minutemen are an improved squad, it won’t be enough to stop Hawaii from getting the win.
College Football Odds: Rainbow Warriors 31, Minutemen 24
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