Predicting A Winning UH Season

UH football head coach Greg McMackin hopes to be playing on Christmas Eve

With only a week until the 2010 season opener, it’s time to think optimistically about the upcoming University of Hawaii football season.

For the past few years, I’ve been pretty close to picking the Warriors’ final record – accurately seeing a 12-0 regular season in 2007, picking an 8-5 season when UH eventually went 7-6 in 2008, and missing again by just one win last year in 2009 when the Warriors finished 6-7.

With my veteran sidekick prognosticator, Warrior football superfan Wayne Coito, trying once again to outguess me (he’s finished runner-up two years in a row), here are our predictions for 2010:

* Game 1 at home vs. USC: The Trojans have averaged well over 60 points a game against UH the last few times they’ve played. We would consider it practically a moral victory if the Warriors can hold them under that number. Mark it an L for UH – I say USC 56-10; Wayne says USC 48-13.

* Game 2 on the road at Army: Key game of the early season for Hawaii. If they win, they are on their way to a potential bowl bid. Wayne and I differ on this one. I say it’s a close W for UH – Hawaii winning with a late field goal 23-20; Wayne says Army 24-21.

* Game 3 on the road at Colorado: The Warriors stay on the Mainland; not good. Also, former Boise coach Dan Hawkins is on the hot seat at Boulder and must see UH as a must-win. Mark it down as an L for UH – I say Colorado 35-10; Wayne says Buffaloes 31-17.

* Game 4 at home vs. Charleston Southern: Nothing like home cooking to even up your record. Both of us see a W for UH – I say Hawaii 45-20; Wayne says Hawaii 42-23.

* Game 5 at home vs. Louisiana Tech: WAC conference opener for the Warriors and another impressive effort awaits the Warrior faithful. Both of us see a W for UH – I say Hawaii 38-24; Wayne sees it closer, with Hawaii winning 35-28.

* Game 6 on the road at Fresno State: First conference road game is a tough one for the Warriors. Despite good luck in the California central valley over the years, neither of us think the ball bounces the Warriors’ way this season. Mark it down as an L for UH – I say Fresno State 41-24; Wayne says Fresno State 38-24.

* Game 7 at home vs. Nevada: Once in a while there’s a game on the schedule that just seems to reach out and make you trip. Both of us see this game as the stumbling point in the Warriors’ season. We both have an L for UH – I say Nevada wins on a late field goal 31-28; Wayne says Nevada 42-31.

* Game 8 on the road at Utah State: Please, just not another game like two years ago in Logan! We’re both cautiously optimistic and both have UH getting the W – I say Hawaii in a close one, 28-24; Wayne says Hawaii 35-21.

* Game 9 at home vs. Idaho: The Vandals are greatly improved and could be a scary foe. We both see a relatively close W for UH – I say Hawaii 38-31; Wayne says Hawaii 42-29.

* Game 10 on the road at Boise State: The Broncos could be playing for a BCS berth and are just too strong. Mark it down as an L for UH – I say Boise State 48-13; Wayne says Boise State 33-14.

* Game 11 at home vs. San Jose State: Should be a down year for the Spartans. We both pick a W for UH – I say Hawaii 35-20; Wayne says Hawaii 49-23.

* Game 12 on the road at New Mexico State: Not fun going to Las Cruces in November, but we feel safe to check off a W for UH – I say Hawaii 24-17; Wayne thinks it’s a Hawaii blowout 51-21.

* Game 13 at home vs. UNLV: We both think the final regular season game leads to a Hawaii Bowl berth and have it down as a W for UH – I say Hawaii in a wild one 35-34; Wayne says Hawaii 38-28. So that means I’m picking Hawaii to go 8-5; Wayne says 7-6.

Save this column and post it on your refrigerator alongside your own picks. However it turns out, the season should be fun.

One more cross-your-fingers prediction:

We’re both hopeful that the Warriors get a chance to face June Jones and his SMU Mustangs Christmas Eve in the Hawaii Bowl. Wouldn’t that be a great way to cap off the 2010 season!