Delaware State vs. Hawai’i Expert Pick and Prediction – August 24, 2024

DELAWARE STATE VS. HAWAI’I EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTION – August 24, 2024 — It already hasn’t been a good trip for the Delaware State Hornets, as the team started off by missing its bus to the airport. Given that Dover, Del. to Honolulu is about the same distance as Delaware to Germany, there aren’t a lot of options for covering that distance.

But the Hornets are on their way west, and if the odds are to be believed, they’re walking into a rout. Hawai’i wasn’t a good team last year, but the Rainbow Warriors showed signs of turning things around near the end of the year. This isn’t necessarily your older brother’s Hawai’i, as coach Timmy Chang now appears to understand that running the ball sometimes makes sense.

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Over the final four games of the season, the Rainbow Warriors ran the ball an un-Hawai’i like 30.5 times per game. And they did it because it worked. Hawai’i won three of its final four games, and its defense seemed to improve drastically when its offense wasn’t sending it back on the field every three minutes.

Against this Delaware State team, anything is likely to work. The Hornets were one of the worst teams in FCS last year, and Hawai’i has won 20 in a row against opponents from the FCS. But is giving six touchdowns too much, even with this team?

The Odds

Kickoff

When: Saturday, August 24 at 11:59 p.m. EST

Where: Clarence TC Ching Complex, Honolulu

TV: Team 1 Sports

Public Bets: Unavailable

Public Money: Unavailable

Odds courtesy of DraftKings, as of August 22nd, 2024.

Delaware State vs. Hawai’i In-Season Trends

Hawai’i has tended to handle its FCS matchups well. The Rainbow Warriors have faced four FCS opponents over the past four seasons, and they’re 3-1 ATS. That includes last year against Albany, which came in catching nine and lost by 11. Only Portland State, which entered as a 26-point dog, managed to cover in defeat.

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And that Albany team was a lot better than Delaware State. While the Great Danes ended up ranked seventh in the nation in FCS, Delaware State has been as bad as it gets. Coach Lee Hill has yet to beat a Division I opponent, and the Hornets have lost 11 straight to DI foes. That includes two games against FBS opponents last year, as Delaware State lost 57-0 to Army and 62-20 to Miami-Ohio.

Weather

Wind can actually play a factor on the islands. Wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour are expected, thanks to the remnants of a tropical storm around Hawai’i. Fortunately, the rain won’t come into play, and temperatures are always going to be high in Hawai’i, hitting 88 degrees.

The Difference-Makers

Brayden Schager needs to show that he still has the trust of his receivers. He doesn’t have his full complement of weapons after Steven McBride’s suspension, but he does have several quality receivers. Schager might have lost some trust when he put his name in the portal in the offseason, but Chang appears to have forgiven that. Schager has the green light to call his own plays if he sees something, and he should see a lot here.

Running back Marquis Gillis represents the best weapon the Hornets have coming back. If Delaware State is to stick close, it must keep the clock moving.

The Pick

Even though the line has gotten crazy, this is a bad opponent that’s already run into problems. Hawai’i had its issues with Albany last year, but it still managed to cover against a good FCS opponent.

This is nowhere near that level of quality. The score should be whatever the Rainbow Warriors want it to be.