Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado was back on the field last week against Fresno State after a foot injury kept him out of the past two games, but it wasn’t the warm welcome he was hoping for.
Alejado threw for 219 yards and a late touchdown that cut the deficit to three points and was the team’s leading rusher. He also threw three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown that put Fresno State ahead for good in the fourth quarter.
The Rainbow Warriors’ freshman signal caller will try to put that performance behind him as Hawaii (3-2) continues Mountain West play against Air Force on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, FS1).
Air Force (1-2) came up short in a 49-37 shootout against Boise State last weekend. Quarterback Liam Szarka continued to break the mold at the service academy with 246 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He also led the team with 110 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Fullback Dylan Carson added 109 yards and a score.
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The Falcons got another eye-popping performance from wide receiver Cade Harris, who finished with eight catches for 177 yards, and Quin Smith hauled in a touchdown pass. This is not your grandfather’s Air Force team that had to rely on the triple option to win games. This team is explosive, and the coaches know exactly when to call those deep passes. The reality is Boise State needed a superstar performance from running back Dylan Riley to beat the Falcons.
Air Force can’t afford another Mountain West loss if the Falcons have any hope of making a run to the championship game. The Falcons already have losses to Utah State and Boise State, and they gave up 49 points in both of those games.
Hawaii vs. Air Force Betting Odds
Air Force is a 6.5-point college football betting odds favorite at BetMGM, and the Over/Under is 53.5 points as of this writing. The moneyline is at -235 for Air Force and +195 for Hawaii.
The Falcons lead the overall series 14-8-1, and they’re 6-2 all-time at home against Hawaii. Air Force is 15-5 overall and 10-10 against the spread in its past 20 games as the favorite at home. Hawaii is 3-17 overall and 8-12 ATS in its past 20 games as an underdog on the road.
Hawaii vs. Air Force On TV
The Mountain West game between Air Force and Hawaii at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, will be televised on FS1.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
Hawaii vs. Air Force Prediction
I predict Hawaii wins 37-34 and that the game goes Over 53.5 points.
The last time Hawaii and Air Force met at Falcon Stadium was in 2016. The Rainbow Warriors won 34-27 in double overtime. We could be in for another high-scoring affair that goes down to the wire.
This Air Force team is more willing to pass than any Falcons squad in recent memory, and that could be the difference in this one. Nobody has been able to slow down Harris yet this season. That being said, the Falcons also extended the nation’s longest streak of 100-yard rushing games to 88 against Boise State last week. It’s pick your poison when it comes to stopping this offense, but Hawaii was up to the task against the run last week when it held Fresno State’s talented backfield to 71 yards.
I think Alejado is as talented as they come in the Mountain West, and he has plenty of capable targets, including Pofele Ashlock, who has caught at least six passes in four of Hawaii’s five games this season. If Alejado can cut down on the turnovers, I think the Rainbow Warriors will have every opportunity to win this game.
