Hawai’i vs. UNLV: Keys to a ‘Bows victory

Hawaii is looking to get bowl eligible by hosting UNLV this weekend.

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Hawai’i vs. UNLV: Keys to a ‘Bows victory

How the Warriors can defeat the Rebels

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The battle for the golden pinapple

Week 12: Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors(6-4,3-3MW) vs. UNLV Rebels(2-7,0-5MW)

When: Saturday, November 16th, 2019

@ 1:00PM PT 11:00AM HST

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, NV

TV: Spectrum Sports PPV

Radio: ESPN Honolulu AM1420, 92.7FM

Stream: Facebook(Only on Mainland)

Series Record: UH leads overall 16-12 in Las Vegas UNLV leads 9-5

Last win at UNLV: September 15th 2007UH 49 UNLV 14

Odds: Hawai’i by -7

Will Hawai’i finally win it big in Vegas losing five straight at UNLV?

This will be the third edition of “The Ninth Island Showdown” and so far the home team has been able to keep it every time. There is no doubt Las Vegas has many distractions for players to lose some focus on the game. But Hawai’i has to put on their blinders and make sure they are on the same page entering Saturday afternoon’s contest. One of the main questions coming into this week is does Hawai’i head coach Nick Rolovich let redshirt freshmen Chevan Coideiro start two weeks in a row or start Cole McDonald who seems to have a good record on the road.

Keys to Hawaii’s victory

Keep UNLV guessing

Whether it is who’s starting at QB or the play calling on offense, the Rainbow Warriors need to keep the UNLV defense on their heels and score a bunch of touchdowns not field goals in the first half. That will give the defense a little cushion to be more aggressive in their zone blitzes and get some sacks that the defense is lacking all year long.

Reed-ing what the defense gives you

Miles Reed has been the missing element in the early part of the season. But now that the opposing defenses sends eight defenders back to cover the speedsters Cedric Byrd, JoJo Ward and company they leave gaps open for Reed to explode downfield and get huge chunks of yards. With the RPO in this run and shoot offense the defense also has to account for the elusive QB McDonald or Coideiro so Reed can get to the second level if given the ball.

Picking on the D

UNLV likes to do some jet sweeps and give their playmaker Charles Williams the ball and gain big chunks of yards pressing the defense. They know the ‘Bows D are 113th in the nation in rush defense and it will be Hawaii’s linemen and linebackers that will have to contain Williams or we may see another shootout like last week against SJSU. Also so far this year DB’s Ikem Okeke and Kai Kaneshiro have three interceptions and two respectively. Look for them closing in on receivers and maybe deflecting balls for more picks from the UNLV freshmen QB Kenyon Oblad.

Prediction

This will be the fourth MW team that has designated their Homecoming game with Hawai’i. The ‘Bows will love for the third time to ruin the home team’s night and sending the Rebel crowd home early and the large sea of green and black happy heading back to the hotels and casinos.

Hawai’i 38 UNLV 28

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