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Oregon State vs. Hawaii: Game Preview, Kick Time, TV & Radio Schedule, Livestream, Prediction
The Warriors host the Beavers and hope to take down another Pac-12 foe. Here’s how to watch the Facebook livestream and what to watch for.
Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire
Get ready for points and more points.
WEEK 2: Oregon State Beavers (0-1) vs. Hawaii Warriors (1-0)
WHEN: Saturday, September 7 — 6:00 PM HT/9:00 PM PT
WHERE: Aloha Stadium; Honolulu, Hawaii (50,000)
TV: Spectrum Sports
STREAM: Facebook
RADIO: The Hawaii broadcast can be found on ESPN Honolulu, via 1420 AM and 92.7 FM. It can also be found on Maui through KRKH 97.3 FM, in Hilo on KPUA 670 AM, and in Kalaheo on KTOH 107.9 FM. The Oregon State broadcast can be found on affiliates of the Beaver Sports Network, on the Tunein app, and on satellite radio via Sirius channel 98 and XM channel 203.
SERIES RECORD: Oregon State leads the series 7-3. In the last meeting on September 6, 2014, the Beavers defeated the Warriors 38-30 in Honolulu.
LAST WEEK: Oregon State couldn’t keep up with Oklahoma State in their home opener, falling to the Cowboys 52-36. Hawaii was on a bye after defeating Arizona 45-38 in Week 0.
WEBSITES: HawaiiAthletics.com, the official Hawaii athletics website | OSUBeavers.com, the official Oregon State athletics website
GAME NOTES (PDF): Hawaii | Oregon State
ODDS (via OddsShark): Hawaii -6.5
FEI PROJECTION: Hawaii by 9.1
SP+ PROJECTION: Hawaii by 6.6 (65% win probability)
The Hawaii Warriors are trendsetters.
After the rest of the Mountain West rose up to topple several Power 5 opponents, it’s pretty easy to look back and conclude that Nick Rolovich’s aggressive play-calling set the tone back in Week 0. Now, they’ll have another opportunity as they host the Oregon State Beavers.
Head coach Jonathan Smith’s second year in Corvallis didn’t get off to the best start last Saturday, but OSU brings a wealth of offensive talent to the islands and it very well could be a matchup that lights up the Aloha Stadium scoreboard.
Here’s how the Warriors can score their second straight win over a Pac-12 opponent.
Three Keys to a Hawaii Victory
1. Harness the downfield aggression.
One narrative thread that most viewers will probably remember is that Chevan Cordeiro had to relieve Cole McDonald in the second half against Arizona after throwing four interceptions. Rolovich came out early to declare McDonald’s starting job wasn’t in jeopardy, but it’s clear he needs to get back to the other side of that fine line between aggression and recklessness.
To that point, keep in mind that despite the picks, McDonald also had six passing plays of 20-plus yards. That was better than his per-game average from last year, and that’s the kind of element that could enable Hawaii to jump on the Beavers early and often.
2. Contain Isaiah Hodgins.
The Warriors had their ups and downs against Arizona’s Khalil Tate, allowing 9.3 yards per attempt while holding him to a 56.9% completion rate with two interceptions, but Oregon State quarterback Jake Luton looked much improved in their home opener thanks in no small part to the explosive Hodgins.
The junior wide receiver had eight catches and at least 100 yards in three of OSU’s last five games in 2018 and picked up right where he left off against Oklahoma State, catching nine passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Expect Luton to get the ball to Hodgins as much as he can.
3. Show that the running game is for real.
The struggles that Hawaii had running the ball late last year are well documented but, in the fourth quarter against Arizona, they averaged a healthy 5.5 yards with four first downs on 12 attempts, a key reason why the Warriors were able to salt the game away. Against an equally suspect Oregon State run defense, doing it again will be crucial.
Much of Oklahoma State’s success in Corvallis last week stemmed from the fact they averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Running back Chuba Hubbard and freshman quarterback Spencer Sanders averaged over eight yards per carry themselves, which would seem to bode well for McDonald, Dayton Furuta and company.
Prediction
If you’re looking for a game that could threaten triple-digit points, look no further. With offensive playmakers facing off against suspect defenses, this seems likely to turn into a track meet.
As much, the result may come down to who can make one or two critical stops. More specifically, it may come down to turnovers on downs, as both teams have shown they can succeed on third and fourth regardless of the yards to go. And if that doesn’t happen at any point, then Hawaii’s ability to score quickly should be the difference. The real winners will be everyone who watches, but look for the Warriors to outlast the Beavers in an instant classic.
Hawaii 52, Oregon State 45
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