EasyPost Hawaii Bowl: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

San Jose State and Coastal Carolina will battle on the islands to close out 2023. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

 

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

The San Jose State Spartans and Coastal Carolina Chanticleers will battle on the islands to close out 2023. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

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Who will gift themselves a pre-Christmas W?

EASYPOST HAWAII BOWL: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (7-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) vs. San Jose State Spartans (7-5, 6-2 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, December 23 — 7:30 PM PT/8:30 PM MT

WHERE: Clarence T.C. Ching Complex; Honolulu, HI

WEATHER: Isolated showers and breezy, low of 73 degrees

TV: ESPN

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes ESPN, by following this link.

RADIO: The Coastal Carolina broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Chanticleer Sports Radio Network, including flagship 99.5 FM (WRNN) in Myrtle Beach. The San Jose State broadcast can be found in and around San Jose on 860 AM (KTRB).

SERIES RECORD: This is the first meeting between Coastal Carolina and San Jose State.

LAST GAME: Coastal Carolina lost to James Madison at home, 56-14, while San Jose State defeated UNLV on the road, 37-31.

WEBSITES: GoCCUSports.com, the official Coastal Carolina athletics website | SJSUSpartans.com, the official San Jose State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): Coastal Carolina | San Jose State

ODDS: San Jose State -9.5

SP+ PROJECTION: San Jose State by 1.0

FEI PROJECTION: San Jose State by 6.5

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: San Jose State 64.50% win probability (31.51-26.58)

As bowl season picks up in earnest, the Saturday nightcap will be the Hawaii Bowl, featuring two teams at 7-5, albeit with very different credentials: San Jose State, winners of their last six, and Coastal Carolina, who lost their last two. Both the Spartans and the Chanticleers will look to continue their offensive prowess, led by Chevan Cordeiro and Ethan Vasko, respectively. (Grayson McCall has since transferred to N.C. State.)

Both teams come in averaging more than 400 yards per game, and one would expect the offensive fireworks to continue one more time. The transfer portal has impacted both teams for this game, but at their heart these two teams are driven by offenses that will look to attack, early and often.

The game will also represent a homecoming of sorts for Chevan Cordeiro, having been raised in Hawaii and starting his collegiate career at the University of Hawaii.

Here’s how the Chanticleers and Spartans can win the 2023 Hawaii Bowl.

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Three Keys to a Coastal Carolina Victory

1. Protect Ethan Vasko.

Grayson McCall has moved on to N.C. State and Vasko is named the starter for this game. He will need time to throw and settle in early for the Chanticleers to have a shot in this game.

2. Establish the running game.

A running game will take a lot of pressure off Vasko and allow the game to play at a slower pace, all while controlling time of possession.

3. Prepare a trick play (or two)

An onside kick, flea flicker, something that breaks up the norm could go a long way in a closely-contested game like this

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Three Keys to a San Jose State Victory

1. Establish the running game.

Kairee Robinson and Quali Conley are among the leaders in the conference, and as with Coastal Carolina, the running game can control time of possession will keep the Chanticleers offense on the sidelines.

2. Establish a viable tight end in the offense.

Dominick Mazzotti has entered the transfer portal and provided a reliable receiver for Cordeiro in many a situation. Cordeiro will need to rely on a new tight end to take the pressure off his wide receivers.

3. Establish the defensive line pressure

The Spartans’ defense has proven to be opportunistic, a bend-but-not-break type, especially for its front seven. If San Jose State can get in the Chanticleers’ backfield and disrupt, that can prove to be effective as well.

Prediction

Based on the statistics, expect a high-scoring affair, with both offenses eager to finish their seasons on a high note. The Spartans’ running game should be the difference maker, however, controlling time of possession and limiting the Chanticleer offense time on the field.

San Jose State 37, Coastal Carolina 33

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