First Meeting Between Teams
Two programs who have never played before will be getting together in Honolulu. This will mark the beginning of Clark Lea’s second season at the helm of the Vanderbilt program while former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang will be making his debut as the head coach of the Rainbows.
Both programs have plenty of work to do. Vanderbilt was last in the SEC in 2021 in total offense, scoring offense, total defense and scoring defense. Hawaii finished in the middle of the pack in the Mountain West Conference in total offense and scoring offense a season ago. However, on the other side of the ball, the Rainbows were last in total defense and 11th out of 12 Mountain West teams in scoring defense.
Hawaii has won 10 of its last 14 home games and were 8-5-1 against the spread in those contests. Vanderbilt has lost 12 of its last 13 games on the road. However, the lone victory came against Mountain West foe Colorado State in 2021.
According to the college football lines, Vanderbilt (+50000) has the longest odds to win the SEC title. Hawaii (+10000) comes in 11th out of the 12 teams in the Mountain West Conference.
Let’s check the latest NCAAF Lines, NCAAF news, stats, injury reports, and NCAAF odds for Vanderbilt vs Hawaii. We’ve plenty of NCAAF picks and predictions.
Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt allowed at least 40 points five times a season ago. The top four tacklers off that unit are all back so the hope is that the hard lessons learned by linebacker Anfernee Orji and Ethan Barr as well as defensive backs Jaylen Mahoney and Maxwell Worship will translate into a much tougher defense to play against.
UConn cornerback Jeremy Lucien, Clemson linebacker Kane Patterson and Cal Poly defensive lineman Myles Cecil lead the list of newcomers who were brought in to help the defense improve.
Mike Wright has been named the starting quarterback for the season opener. Running back Rocko Griffin is back after leading the Commodores in rushing last season.
Clark Lea took the stage at SEC Media Day on Tuesday, naming Mike Wright his starting quarterback for the opener against Hawaii
Story by: @BryceSmith_27 https://t.co/zBhBsRducS
— Vandy Hustler Sports (@vuhustlersports) July 20, 2022
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Hawaii’s defense has certainly got some work to do. However, with record-breaking quarterback Chang taking over at his alma mater, he has to be pleased to know that the Rainbow Warriors have the third most experienced offensive line in the country. Hawaii’s linemen have started 109 career games. Only Pittsburgh with 130 starts and UTSA with 118 are ahead of Hawaii.
There isn’t quite as much experience at quarterback. Brayden Schager did play in six games as a freshman. He had two touchdown passes and five interceptions. With top receiver Nick Mardner transferring to Cincinnati, the projected starting receivers combined for 40 of the 260 catches a season ago.
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Injury Report
Vanderbilt DE Miles Capers (knee) is out for the season. Hawaii DB McKenzie Barnes (Achilles) is out for the season.
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Head-to-Head
This is the first meeting between the programs.
Saturday’s game will mark the fourth time in the last five seasons that Vanderbilt will meet a team from the Mountain West. The Commodores have won two of the previous three matchups and that includes a 24-21 win at Colorado State as a 6½-point underdog a season ago. Each of the previous three matchups against Mountain West programs went under the total.
Hawaii hasn’t played a team from the SEC since falling to Florida 56-10 in the 2008 season opener. The Rainbow Warriors have lost their last three contests against SEC teams and failed to cover in each of the last two.
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Game Information
- Game: Vanderbilt vs Hawaii
- Location: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, Honolulu
- Day/Time: Saturday Aug. 27, 10:30 p.m. ET
- Vanderbilr vs Hawaii Live Stream: ESPN
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Vanderbilt Commodores | -8 -110 | -320 | 54 -110o | |
| Hawaii Warriors | +8 -110 | +260 | 54 -110u |
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Prediction
Only eight Football Bowl Subdivision teams allowed more plays from scrimmage of at least 20 yards than the Commodores and Rainbow Warriors so don’t expect this to turn into an defensive slugfest.
Hawaii has won seven consecutive home openers dating back to a 2014 loss to Oregon State. The Rainbow Warriors have won their last three home contests against teams from Power-5 Conferences.
Something to consider for those who bet online, the total has gone under in each of the last seven season openers for Vanderbilt. Hawaii has covered in six of the last seven games played in August. This is a hard game to pick with the coaching change in Hawaii as well as Vanderbilt’s roster turnover.
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Trends
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Edge
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Results
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Game Injuries
Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Game Summary
“The odds and predictions in the article are based on time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.”
