I'm proud to say I'm a member of #EatEmUpKats nation, but Sam Houston's doors got blown off last weekend at UCF. The Knights offense completely dominated the game, and SHSU's offense had nothing to show for it.
Timmy Chang's Hawaii Rainbow Warriors travel to Huntsville, Texas, to take on the Bearkats on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
The Bows are coming off a bye after suffering a tough loss at the hands UCLA in Week 1.
The Bearkats are -4.5 point favorites, and the total continues to sink as it now sits at 50 across most books.
Let's break down this matchup and dive into our Sam Houston vs Hawaii Predictions, Picks, Odds — Saturday, Sept. 14.
My Hawaii vs Sam Houston PickS
- Hawaii vs Sam Houston State Prediction: Hawaii +3 or better
My Hawaii vs Sam Houston best bet is on the Rainbow Warriors to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at BetMGM, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Hawaii vs Sam Houston Odds, Spread, Over/Under
| Sam Houston Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+4 -110 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | +150 |
| Hawaii Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-4 -110 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | -178 |
- Point Spread: Hawaii -4 · Sam Houston +4
- Total: Over/Under 48.5 Points
- Moneyline: Hawaii ML -178 · Sam Houston ML +150
Hawaii Football vs Sam Houston Bearkats Preview
Hawaii Warriors: Can Bows Find Success?
Chang's Hawaii team is coming off a bye and will hit the road for the first time in 2024. The Bows had a shot at pulling off an upset against UCLA, but they failed to do so.
The handicap for this game lies in the defensive discrepancy. Hawaii ranks 55th in Defensive Success Rate, but the Kats come in at 122nd.
The Bows are also 30th nationally in early-down EPA/Play Allowed, which is outstanding. It's an excellent matchup for them in that area, especially since the Kats could be a better offensive team on the early downs (103rd).
It's strange to talk about Hawaii's defense as the team's strength, but the offense hasn't gotten off to a great start. The Warriors rank 100th in Offensive Success Rate, but the Kats are among the nation's worst teams in defending the run.
The Bows have not had much success running the ball, but they should find success against a soft defensive trench.
Quarterback Brayden Schager has to improve, or else the offense will be one-dimensional all evening.
I have more faith in Hawaii's offense to find success, especially on early downs. If it avoids third-and-long situations, it should give itself a chance.
Sam Houston Bearkats: SHSU Facing Struggles
The Bearkats impressed in their Week 1 victory, but they got beat down by UCF las week. I foolishly backed SHSU as a 21.5-point underdog, but there was no way that offense could keep up.
Sam Houston won’t need to explode offensively to win on Saturday, but its defense is a legitimate concern. It ranks outside the top 115 in both Offensive and Defensive Success Rate.
It’s not an excellent situation for either group right now, and they’ll face a legitimate challenge against the Bows' defensive line. The Kats are also in trouble on early downs, so they’ll have to find success through the air.
With all of the issues on the defensive side of the ball, I can’t find myself running to the window to bet Sam Houston as a favorite over a field goal.
While it may be the sharp side, there are too many red flags for my liking.
<span >How to Make College Football Picks For My Hawaii vs Sam Houston Prediction</span>
I like Chang’s team to pick up the cover on Saturday.
The Bearkats' issues on the defensive side of the ball give me a lot of cause for concern, and they’re among the bottom of the barrel in the country.
Schager has a somewhat difficult matchup against the SHSU secondary, but Hawaii's ground game should still find plenty of open space.
Sam Houston might be the home team here, but it should not be favored.
I’ll happily snag Hawaii at anything over a field goal.
Pick: Hawaii +3 or better
<span >How to Watch Hawaii vs Sam Houston: Streaming, Channel, Time</span>
| Location: | Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, TX |
| Date: | Saturday, Sept. 14 |
| Kickoff Time: | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN+ |
Sam Houston vs Hawaii Forecast
- Sam Houston has landed 81% of the bets and generated 99% of the money.
- The under has similarly taken 86% of the tickets and produced 99% of the cash.
SHSU vs Hawaii Weather
