Fri, 12/24/10, 7:30 PM EDT, ESPN
Point Spread: Hawaii -10.5
Total: 73
Hawaii enters its sixth appearance in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl ranked No. 24 in the nation. The Warriors are 10-3 on the season and have won nine of their past 10 games to move into the rankings. The program is 3-2 in five previous trips to the Hawaii Bowl and will be making its 10th all-time major bowl appearance. Hawaii’s last appearance in this game was a 49-21 loss to Notre Dame in 2008, which followed three straight wins over Houston, UAB and Arizona State. the team was a dominating 11-2 ATS over the season and currently a double-digit favorite.
The Warriors led the nation in passing offense and ranked eighth in total offense. Hawaii features the nation’s top passer in quarterback Bryant Moniz, as the junior has passed for 356.1 yards per game. Defensively, the team is much improved and leads the country in turnovers forced (36) and interceptions (23). Safety Mana Silva is the key player in the secondary and is tied for the national lead with eight interceptions. The program is 34-23 all-time versus current members of Conference USA.
Tulsa will play in its fifth bowl game in the last six years against an old WAC Rival on its home turf this Friday. The holiday game features two of the nation’s top 10 offenses and the Golden Hurricanes are excited to visit the island. The program will be playing in its 17th bowl game overall and has won its last two by posting a 45-13 win over Ball State last year and a 63-7 win in the GMAC Bowl the previous year. Tulsa is 8-4 ATS on the season. The Golden Hurricanes averaged 39.7 points per game this season and are led offensively by quarterback G.J. Kinne and wide receiver Damaris Johnson, the nation’s leader for all-purpose years last season and this year. Defensively, the secondary is going to face a major test in facing the aerial game of its opponent, while also trying to prove the season-long critics that have dubbed this the worst pass defense in college football.
