The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (+24) are heading west to face their MWC counterpart Fresno State Bulldogs at Bulldog Stadium. Kickoff for this keygame is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET and fans can watch the action live on ESPN2.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors vs. Fresno State Bulldogs Betting Preview
Hawaii is a big road underdog here and is currently receiving 24 points from oddsmakers. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 55.5 points. Multiple solid in-game betting opportunities should be unveiled during the match.
The line opened at -23 while the over/under has yet to move after it was initially set at 55.5.
Each team has posted a good return this season as the Rainbow Warriors have gained 12.5 units and the Bulldogs are up 3.9 units.
The Rainbow Warriors have gone 6-3 straight up (SU), including 3-1 SU against conference opponents. The Bulldogs are 6-1 SU overall and 3-0 SU in conference play.
Fresno State comes into this matchup on a two-game losing streak while Hawaii has come out on top in its last five in a row. The Rainbow Warriors fell to Nevada 40-22 in a thumping where their defense allowed the Wolf Pack to eat up the clock by rushing for 220 yards on 36 attempts, including four rush TDs. On the offensive side of the ball, Cole McDonald completed only 19 passes on 37 attempts for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Dayton Furuta (55 rushing yards on 16 attempts) and the signal-caller McDonald (21 yards on 11 carries) led the running attack. John Ursua (seven receptions, 123 yards, one TD) and Cedric Byrd (five catches, 50 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Fresno State just picked up a 38-7 win over New Mexico. Marcus McMaryion completed 20-of-30 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Hokit (35 rushing yards on 12 attempts) and Ronnie Rivers (48 yards on 11 carries, two TDs) mounted the running game while KeeSean Johnson (eight receptions, 149 yards, two TDs) and Rivers (four catches, 69 yards, one TD) led the receiving attack in the win.
Hawaii has run the ball on 45.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Fresno State has an overall rush percentage of 54.3 percent. The Rainbow Warriors have produced 133 rush yards per game (including 150 per game versus Mountain West opponents) and have nine scores on the ground this year. The Bulldogs are totaling 136 rush yards per game (96 in conference) and have 18 total rushing TDs.
If the results so far this season are any indication, then the Bulldogs might have the more disruptive lines up front, as their offensive line has allowed just five sacks while the D-line has logged 13 sacks. The Rainbow Warriors offensive line has allowed 26 sacks and their defense has logged only 23 sacks.
The Rainbow Warriors offense has logged 307 yards/game through the air overall (292 per game against conference opposition) and has 31 passing TDs so far. The Bulldogs have produced 272 pass yards per contest (269.3 against MWC foes) and have 15 total pass scores.
Defensively, Hawaii has allowed opponents to run for an average of 179 yards and pass for 246 yards per game. The Fresno State defense has given up 175.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 124.9 yards per game on the ground. The Bulldogs are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 2.91 to opposing QBs, while the Rainbow Warriors have given up an 8.05 ANY/A.
Offensively, McDonald is up to 2,359 passing yards this season, and has connected on 175-of-277 attempts with 27 passing scores and only two interceptions. McDonald has a 9.15 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.14 over the past two games.
John Ursua (924 receiving yards, 13 receiving touchdowns this season), Cedric Byrd (564 receiving yards, eight receiving TDs) and Dayton Furuta (384 rush yards, one rush TD) have each played big roles lately.
On the other sideline, Marcus McMaryion has managed to complete 128-of-180 passes for 1,571 yards, 12 TDs and two INTs. McMaryion’s ANY/A stands at 9.13 for the year and 10.52 over his past two games.
Similar to the Rainbow Warriors, expect a balanced approach offensively from Fresno State this Saturday. KeeSean Johnson (608 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns this season), Ronnie Rivers (85 rush yards, three rush TDs, 88 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Jared Rice (277 receiving yards, one receiving TD) have combined for 505 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns over the last couple of games.
When these two programs met last year, Fresno State emerged victorious by a score of 31-21.
RELATED: Week 9 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Prediction: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Fresno State Bulldogs
SU Winner – Fresno State, ATS Winner – Hawaii, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
Fresno State has lost three fumbles this season while Hawaii has let six get away.
The Hawaii defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 23 times this year. Fresno State has recorded just 13 sacks.
As a team, Hawaii has averaged 3.3 yards per carry over its past three contests and 2.8 over its last two.
Fresno State has averaged 2.8 yards per carry over its last three games and 3.3 over its last two.
In its last three matchups, Fresno State is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Hawaii’s last game was 66.5. The under cashed in the team’s 40-22 defeat to Nevada.
Over its last three matchups, Hawaii is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Fresno State’s previous game going into it was 52. The under cashed in that 38-7 victory over New Mexico.
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