Stanford vs Hawaii Prediction - College Football Picks 9/1/23

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0-1) vs Stanford Cardinal (0-0)

Game Info: Friday, September 1, 2023 at 11:00 pm (Clarence T.C. Ching Complex)

Betting Odds: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors +3.5 -- Over/Under: 57.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

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The Stanford Cardinal will head to Honolulu to meet the Hawaii Warriors in non-conference action this Friday from the Ching Athletics Complex.

Stanford Cardinal Preview

Stanford went 3-9 last season, with a 1-8 record in Pac-12 play. Stanford scored 21.3 points per game, while passing for 254.5 yards per game, and rushing for 107.3 ypg.

• Ashton Daniels and Ari Patu are the only returning quarterbacks with experience in Palo Alto, and there’s a chance senior transfer Beau Nelson gets the call. Daniels presents a dual-threat option, as he gained 124 rushing yards and scored three times on the ground over the final month of the season.

• E.J. Smith, son of NFL hall of famer Emmitt, will make his return after missing most of last season with injury. The senior back gained over 200 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns through two contests, and he may have a big role if he remains healthy this season.

• Fellow senior Casey Filkins also returns alongside him rushing for 478 yards and four touchdowns through seven games in 2022.

• Veteran wideout John Humphreys is the leading returning receiver, and he caught 29 passes for 348 yards last season.

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Preview

Hawaii opened the season with a loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville, 35-28. The Rainbow Warriors came through with a back door cover after scoring two late touchdowns, and they find themselves in another underdog spot here. Hawaii looked like the Hawaii of old, passing for 351 yards, while gaining just 40 yards on the ground against the Commodores.

• Brayden Schager began his season with a 350-yard performance against Vanderbilt, while tossing three touchdowns to a pair of picks. The junior quarterback will now return home, where he delivered mixed results in four starts during Mountain West last year.

• Landon Sims and Tylan Hines each received nine carries, with the former leading the way with 38 yards.

• Freshman wideout Pofele Ashlock led the way with seven catches for 127 receiving yards and a touchdown.

• Senior wideout Steven McBride also caught seven passes for 88 yards and two scores.

• The Hawaii defense allowed 297 total yards in the loss to Vandy.

Corey’s Free Pick

They’ve really put Hawaii’s brains to the test by opening the season with Vanderbilt and Stanford, and just as they did in Week 0, I believe they’ll compete well again. Hawaii comes into this contest with a full game under their belt, and they’ll be taking on a new regime in Stanford, that’s about to get its feet wet for the first time. The style's will also clash, as the Cardinal will lean on the ground game and their physical prowess, while the Warriors will flow through the air, and possess a noticeable advantage in the passing game. There’s a reason the margin on this contest is so close, as the hosts have a real chance of upsetting a Pac-12 school here, so let’s spot Hawaii the points again this week.