Marcus Arroyo resumes calling Arizona State’s plays for tonight’s Hall of Fame Game, a 7:30 p.m. Arizona kickoff at Mountain America Stadium. Kenny Dillingham spent Tuesday with the defense after Baylor repeatedly caught their players out of position. Last week’s sold-out crowd began leaving during the third quarter. Dillingham now has more time to address the confusion that spoiled their return to Tempe. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for today’s college football game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
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Arizona State vs. Hawaii prediction, preview
Cutter Boley’s new receivers can stretch Hawaii’s secondary. Reed Harris hauled in a contested 41-yard pass against Baylor, and Omarion Miller’s 30-yard touchdown arrived before halftime. Hawaii’s transfer corners, Jaylon Edmond and Jeremiah Hughes, need help against that pair. Dennis Thurman can send Julian Smith, who recorded two sacks against San Jose State in his first extended action. Boley’s blockers have struggled with pressure; Arizona State used an extra lineman to improve protection last week, and right guard Wade Helton could return. Arroyo can repeat that adjustment when he calls longer throws for the Kentucky transfer.
Kyson Brown should make those defensive decisions harder. Hawaii held San Jose State to 78 rushing yards, but Wyoming gained 183 on 38 carries two weeks ago; Thurman cannot abandon the front to defend Harris. Brown needs to gain yards early so Boley can throw off play-action rather than rescue another third-and-long. Brown’s opportunity raises my scoring expectation for Arizona State, although the Sun Devils have finished only one of six red-zone visits against FBS opponents with a touchdown. Arroyo knows this offense; Boley and his blockers still have to finish those drives.
Through a dispiriting 1–4 start, Hawaii has badly missed the receivers who made Micah Alejado’s freshman season so much fun. Jackson Harris departed for LSU, and Pofele Ashlock remains uncleared. Devin Alves finally supplied something deeper against San Jose State: his catches of 49 and 58 yards helped Hawaii recover from a scoreless first half. The Virginia Tech transfer’s touchdown narrowed the deficit to one point. Arizona State now faces him without injured starting safety Lyrik Rawls.
Hawaii vs. Arizona State pick, best bet
Timmy Chang should work Tama Uiliata underneath and challenge Arizona State’s coverage checks with quicker tempo. C.J. Fite can wreck that plan if Hawaii’s guards cannot block him; Alejado has absorbed 14 sacks through five games. Baylor ran through Arizona State for 6.8 yards per carry. DeVon Rice deserves more work after gaining a useful 4.7 yards per attempt on 59 carries this season. Chang should trust him near the goal line, where Hawaii has scored touchdowns on a miserable seven of 18 visits. Sean Olvera-Harle’s nine successful field goals in 11 attempts have salvaged points, but stalled possessions still constrain the comeback.
Harris and Miller should give Boley enough explosive plays to pull ahead. I’m taking 21 against a team whose mistakes involve both the blockers who must open room near the goal line and the defenders now responsible for covering Alves.
Best bet: Hawaii +21 (-112).
Projected score: Arizona State 34, Hawaii 17.
Best Bet: Hawaii +21 (-110) at Arizona State
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