Hawaii +7.5 4.4* POD
Both of these teams head into the 2015 season with high hopes for improving and there are a lot of things to like about each for achieving that goal, but I think Hawaii really needs this game more, and Colorado's defense could have a hard time in this game. Hawaii brings in USC transfer QB Max Wittek to take over an offense that returns 2 of their top receivers in Pedroza and Kemp and they bring in an offensive coordinator for the first time under Norm Chow. Chow must really be a control freak, but he's on the hot seat and knows he had to do this. Don Bailey comes over and he will feature an uptempo attack that he ran at FCS Idaho State. Bailey brought Idaho State out of nowhere and they ranked 1st in passing offense and 2nd in total offense among FCS teams. This offense will undoubtedly improve and they'll face Colorado whose ranked 116th, 110th, and 124th the last 3 years in yards per play allowed.
Hawaii was actually better than their record indicated last year with 4 net closes losses of 10 points. They lost to open last year to Washington out of the PAC 12 by 1 point, and they'll face a Colorado team that is not as good as the Washington team was. Colorado does have a very good QB, and WR tandem, but they showed an inability to close games last year and quickly ran out of options. Hawaii's defense should be exciting in the back 7, and the DL will again have depth issues, but this is game 1 and this team really needs a win when you consider they have road games against Ohio State, Wisconsin and Boise following this game.
