Sep 16, 2023; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Hawaii Warriors wide receiver Alex Perry (88) celebrates a touchdown with wide receiver Pofele Ashlock (86) during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports
- Delaware State and Hawaii cap off Week 0 on Saturday night
- Hawaii is a large favorite over the Hornets
- Keep reading for the latest Delaware State vs Hawaii odds, picks, and predictions for August 24
College football does not feel all the way back until you can stay up late and bet on the Hawaii game. Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for midnight on the East Coast. This is one of two FBS vs FCS matchups in Week 0.
The college football odds list Hawaii as a huge 40-point favorite over FCS Delaware State, who won just one game last season. Will they be able to cover his big spread or will Delaware State show some fight?
See below for the latest odds as well as my prediction.
Delaware State vs Hawaii Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware State | +40 (-110) | – | O 56.5 (-110) |
| Hawaii | -40 (-110) | – | U 56.6 (-110) |
In this game, Hawaii opened as a 27-point favorite but has since moved all the way to 40. Some books even show Hawaii at -40.5, so the spread could continue to move before kickoff. If you like Hawaii against the spread, lock your bet in sooner rather than later.
The total opened at 51.5 and moved to 56.5. With the spread being so large, moneyline odds are not available at all books.
Odds as of August 23rd, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out the best sports betting sites for CFB Week 0.
Hawaii vs Delaware State Betting Splits
The latest NCAAF public betting splits show that the majority of the money is on Hawaii against the spread and the over. 98% of the betting handle is on Hawaii ATS, and 87% of the money is on Over 56.5. It is also worth noting that only 42% of the bets are on the over.
Delaware State Betting Trends
The Hornets of Delaware State went just 1-10 last season. Their lone victory was a 48-10 win over Virginia University of Lynchburg. In two games against FBS teams last year, Delaware State lost by at least 40 points. They lost 57-0 against Army and 62-20 against Miami (OH) in 2023.
Delaware State returns their starting quarterback, Marqui Adams, and their starting running back, Marquis Gillis, from last season. Adams threw for 1,452 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. Gillis ran for 732 yards and five touchdowns last season and was the 2022 MEAC Rookie of the Year. With them both returning, the offense should be a little better than last year, but I do not expect many points from the Hornets. If you take out the VA Lynchburg win, Delaware State averaged just 15 points per game. That was primarily against FCS competition and now they face FBS Hawaii to open their 2024 campaign.
They are returning a lot of starters, including the quarterback position, but I am not sure how much that matters in this instance.
Hawaii Betting Trends
Hawaii finished 23 with a 5-8 record, but they ended the season on a high note. The Rainbow Warriors won three of their last four games, including big victories over Air Force and Colorado State. They also covered the spread in three of those last four games. Playing in Week 0 is not a new task for Hawaii. Hawaii has played in seven Week 0 games are is 3-4 in those games. They are 1-1 at home.
They have been great at home in season openers as well. Hawaii is 12-2 against the spread in home openers since 2010. Seven of their last eight home openers have also hit the over.
Senior quarterback Brayden Schager is back for Hawaii after throwing for 3,542 yards and 26 touchdowns last season. He also threw 14 interceptions. Schager’s top target, Steven McBride also returns, which is big for this offense. McBride had over 1,000 receiving yards in 2023 and caught nine touchdowns for the Rainbow Warriors in 13 games. The offense is talented, but it was the defense that got better down the stretch last season.
Delaware State vs Hawaii Prediction
Hawaii has a big advantage in this game playing at home. Delaware State has to travel from the Northeast all the way to Honolulu. To make it even worse for the Hornets, they missed their 10.5-hour flight earlier this week.
Delaware State is +38.5 to Hawaii on Saturday…
Per @StephenTsai , they missed their 10.5-hour flight today…
College football is officially here ‼️ pic.twitter.com/btDHfQl1aB
— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) August 20, 2024
Hawaii should not have a problem in this game. Their passing offense has the ability to blow this game wide open early, and Delaware State’s offensive production last season does not give bettors a lot of hope in putting up points. Even though Hawaii is not a powerhouse FBS team, we saw the Hornets struggle against middle-of-the-pack FCS teams last year, so this is a tough draw for their first game of 2024. Even if the Rainbow Warriors take their foot off the gas pedal, they have enough talent to win by 40+. Take Hawaii to cap off Week 0.
Del State vs Hawaii Pick: Hawaii -40 (-110)
Zach has been involved in the sports betting industry for three years. After starting to bet on sports in college, Zach was interested in how it can make any game interesting. The trends, line movement, and finding unique angles to predict the outcomes of games captivated Zach to get more involved. He specializes in betting on the NFL, College Football, MLB, College Basketball, and College Baseball. He is fresh off winning a +1400 pre-season ticket with Tennessee winning the College World Series. At SBD, Zach runs the social media accounts while also assisting where he can on the website through articles and picks. Zach completed a Master’s program in Sports Journalism from St. Bonaventure University.
College football is finally back, and Week 0 kicks off with an intriguing matchup between the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and the Delaware State Hornets. Both teams will be looking to start their season on the right foot and build momentum for the rest of the year.
The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors are coming off a solid 2020 season where they finished with a 5-4 record. Head coach Todd Graham will be looking to continue the team’s success and make a push for a conference championship. The Rainbow Warriors have a potent offense led by quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who threw for over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Running back Calvin Turner Jr. is also a player to watch, as he rushed for over 500 yards and six touchdowns in 2020.
On the other side, the Delaware State Hornets are looking to improve on their 2020 campaign where they finished with a 2-3 record. Head coach Rod Milstead will be looking to build on the team’s progress and compete for a conference title. The Hornets have a strong defense led by linebacker Brian Cavicante, who recorded 45 tackles and two sacks last season. Quarterback Tylik Bethea will be looking to lead the offense and make plays down the field.
In terms of predictions, the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors are favored in this matchup with odds of -21.5. The over/under for total points scored is set at 56.5. While Hawaii is the clear favorite, Delaware State should not be overlooked as they have the potential to pull off an upset.
In terms of picks, I would lean towards taking Hawaii to cover the spread. The Rainbow Warriors have a more experienced roster and should be able to take advantage of Delaware State’s defense. I also like the over on total points scored, as both teams have the ability to put up points on the board.
Overall, this Week 0 matchup between Hawaii and Delaware State should be an exciting way to kick off the college football season. Both teams will be looking to make a statement and set the tone for the rest of the year. Fans can expect a high-scoring game with plenty of action on both sides of the ball.
