Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt Predictions, Picks & Odds Week 0: Will Rainbow Warriors Get Revenge?

Check out our top predictions for the college football Week 0 matchup between Hawaii and Vanderbilt based on the best NCAAF odds.
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The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Vanderbilt Commodores will face off during Week 0 for the second consecutive season. Read on for our Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt picks based on the best college football odds.

Of the 11 Week 0 college football games last season, none had a bigger margin of victory than Vanderbilt’s 63-10 triumph over Hawaii. Vanderbilt finished 5-7 (2-6 SEC) last year, its best overall and conference record since going 6-7 (3-5 SEC) in 2018. The Commodores are looking for their fourth .500-plus record this century.

Hawaii finished 3-10 (2-6 Mountain West) last season, its worst overall record since 2015. Head coach Timmy Chang returns for his second season and has an uphill battle, as the Rainbow Warriors are tied with New Mexico for the worst odds to win the Mountain West (+12000 odds via FanDuel).                  

Here is our best Hawai’i vs. Vanderbilt prediction and college football picks (odds via our best college football betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt prediction: Week 0

Hawaii +17.5 (-108 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

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Considering Vanderbilt was 53 points better than Hawaii last year, taking the +17.5 points with the underdog for our top college football Week 0 predictions seems risky.

However, we expect much better production from Rainbow Warriors quarterback Brayden Schager, who led an offense that finished 120th in passing success rate last year. Schager averaged 195 yards per game last season, but looks to carry the momentum of five straight 200-plus yard games to finish the season into this year.

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Vanderbilt's standout victories over the likes of Kentucky and Florida in the previous season sent ripples of astonishment through the college football landscape. These triumphs were largely engineered by the efforts of two pivotal figures, running back Ray Davis and quarterback Mike Wright. Alas, a shift in tides has seen both these architects of success seek new horizons via transfer.

As the upcoming season unfurls, the spotlight appears poised to grace Vanderbilt's offensive arsenal, leaving its defensive counterpart a step behind. According to the meticulous projections of SP+, the offense is slated at a respectable 53rd ranking, while the defensive unit finds itself positioned at the 99th spot.

Enter Hawaii, with a defensive stronghold anchored in its secondary, a force to be reckoned with. The vanguard is led by none other than Cam Stone, a transfer from Wyoming who's garnered preseason accolades as a First-Team All-Mountain West selection. Adding further weight to this defensive might, cornerback Virdel Edwards II has clinched a spot on PFF's prestigious All-Conference Second Team. Together with the ever-watchful safety Peter Manuma, renowned for his ball-hawking prowess, this formidable trio seems poised to cast shadows over Vanderbilt's aerial ambitions. This is especially noteworthy considering the Commodores' returning quartet of top-notch wide receivers, forming a potent passing ensemble from last year's roster.

This is a three-star play, as Vanderbilt went 1-5 ATS at home last season and has covered just one of six games as a home favorite since 2019. I also included this pick in my Week 0 college football best bets.

Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt best odds

DraftKings (-108)

DraftKings FanDuel BetMGM Caesars bet365
+17.5 +17.5  +17.5  +17.5 +17.5
(-108) (-110) (-110) (-110) (-110)

This is a rare occurrence in college football betting lines, as most of our best sports betting apps have the exact same number and charge the same juice for this point spread. 

However, DraftKings gets the nod as our go-to sportsbook, the only shop charging less than the standard juice to back the underdogs. 

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Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt odds

Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt odds analysis

BetMGM and FanDuel opened with Vanderbilt -17 but moved off the key number, as 60% of the consensus wagers have backed the favorites. 

BetRivers was the only major sportsbook to touch a high of +18.5. Not only is it aligned with the other shops at +17.5, though, but it also charges the most juice (-113). 

The total is 55.5 points across all of our best sportsbooks, and has not moved from its opening number, even though wagers are 2/1 in favor of the Over.

Hawaii vs. Vanderbilt game info

  • When: Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, TN
  • How to watch: SECN
  • Weather: 96 degrees, 24% chance of precipitation, 8-mph NW winds

Hawaii-Vanderbilt pick made on 08/24/2023 at 7:03 a.m.

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