College Football Predictions – Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 2017 NCAA Football Preview
2016 Recap
2016 Record – 7-7
2016 ATS – 5-8-1
Hawaii had a successful first season under HC Nick Rolovich finishing up at 7-7 and winning a bowl game while overcoming a ridiculously demanding schedule. They traveled the equivalent of six trips to the sun and back but still managed to bag their first 7+ win season since 2010. Not many people expected them to return to bowl eligibility so quickly. Job well done.
2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Mountain West -TBD
Mountain Division – TBD
OFFENSE
The Rainbow Warriors appear to have found a good one in QB Dru Brown who had a fine 2016 season (2,488, 19-7 TD to INT) and he just might break out in a big way this year. Brown proved to be smart and efficient and crafty enough to run for over 300 yards and 4 TDs. Hawaii brings back #1 RB Diocemy Saint Juste (1,006, 6.1 yards per carry) but do not have any proven experience behind him on the depth chart. The offensive line looks to be solid with 3/5 returning starters including LT Dejon Allen who garnered 2nd Team MW honors in 2016. Hawaii will miss last season’s #1 WR Marcus Kemp (1,100, 8 TD) but appear to have a number of fine options in the mix this season and we KNOW Hawaii can crank out playmakers at the WR position. The offense should take another step forward in 2017.
DEFENSE
The past two seasons have been pretty dimsal as they yielded 35+ points per game and 230+ yards rushing per contest on both occasions. Things are looking up this year, as even though the Rainbow Warriors are very inexperienced in the secondary, the front seven should be a lot better in 2017. The DL has a pair of returning starters and some nice size at DT. The LB unit returns intact led by their best defensive player and leading tackler MLB Jahlani Tavai who was a 1st Team MW performer in 2016 (7 sacks, 19.5 TFL, 129 tackles). They will get ripped apart occasionally by good passing teams but they appear to be on the right track.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Danger ! Danger ! There is a complete reload in the kicking game as they need to replace excellent PK Rigoberto Sanchez who drilled 13/13 (!) FGs last year. They will also feature a new punter (SHOCKER – an Aussie !) and it is always a bit of an unknown starting two freshmen kicking specialists (if that’s the way it turns out). They need to find some spice in the return game.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot
Nothing stands out. The schedule is balanced and they do not face back-to-back road games (the only exception – UCLA,Wyoming – but have a bye week in between).
MEGAmazing Tidbits
It seems impossible, but after triple-checking the numbers, it does indeed appear that Hawaii has a combined (-62) turnover margin over the past five seasons. Gotta clean that up, yo.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 7.5
MEGALOCKS says:
Overall, we give the RAINBOW WARRIORS a 7.5 ATS Value Rating (Very Good) this season.
Hawaii football fans should be excited about where the program is headed. HC Rolovich got them to a bowl game ahead of schedule (in our estimation) and now enters his second season with an emerging star at QB and an improving defense. They have by our count seven very winnable games on the docket and they are usually good for at least one big upset. Feels like they will be bowling again.
From an ATS perspective we also see them trending upwards. They are on a really smelly run vs Vegas with only one winning season ATS since 2010 and a horrid 8-18-1 (30.8%) mark over the past two campaigns. The defense is still bit sketchy but we are confident that the Rainbow Warriors will be a money-maker more often than not this year.
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