Defense, emotion dictate a Hawaii win tonight

So far my preseason picks (as well as those of many other prognosticators) have been on the money for which games the University of Hawaii football team would win this season. To this point, I had the Rainbow Warriors at 1-4, with the lone win against Northern Iowa.

The next win I had UH picked for was tonight’s game against Wyoming. I still think Hawaii wins despite a spate of injuries to key players including running back Joey Iosefa and Ikaika Woolsey’s problems at quarterback … but it’s going to be a lot more low-scoring than what I would’ve predicted preseason.

I say UH wins 13-7, delivering an emotional victory for coach Norm Chow. Funeral services were held for Chow’s mother earlier this week, a few days after his wife suffered an aneurysm.

This game should be dominated by defense. And it doesn’t help the Cowboys that their starting left tackle, Connor Rains, is out with an appendectomy. The Rainbow Warriors defense will have a field day, forcing at least two turnovers.

Look for UH to play ball-control, with Steven Lakalaka running the ball. Hawaii will take a shot downfield with play-action once in awhile with Taylor Graham’s big arm in the game. But can the receivers get open, and will they hang on to the ball?

This isn’t going to be very exciting if offense is your thing. But Hawaii should be 1-0 in the Mountain West at the close of business tonight.