Micah Alejado #12 of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors runs the ball during the first half of the game against the Utah State Aggies at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on October 11, 2025 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Getty Images See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on Google There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic in Honolulu this season.
After simmering success in the first four years under head coach (and former program legend) Timmy Chang, the Rainbow Warriors seem primed to take the next step.
They’re among the favorites in the Mountain West, and quarterback Micah Alejado is one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the country.
Perhaps in the long term there are reasons to be hopeful for Stanford football. Andrew Luck is guiding the program now and head coach Tavita Pritchard has his supporters, but this year is likely to be a slog.
Stanford’s win total sits at just 3.5, and this tilt with Hawaii could very well decide if the Cardinal go over or under that mark.
Stanford is at home and a Power 4 program, so it’s no surprise they are the 4-point favorite on Saturday. However, even that short number seems a bit lofty.
While the Cardinal could be an efficient offense against pedestrian defenses like Hawaii, they lack explosiveness.
Quarterback Davis Warren of the Stanford Cardinal speaks at the ACC Kickoff media days at Hilton Charlotte Uptown on July 15, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Getty Images Quarterback Davis Warren, a Michigan transfer, is noted more for his leadership qualities than what he does between the lines. He’ll rely heavily on the running game to set the tempo and try to fill in the blanks as best he can through the air.
Hawaii will ask for much more out of its quarterback.
Alejado threw for 3,106 yards and 24 TDs as a redshirt freshman in 2025 despite dealing with injuries basically all season.
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He can flip a game in an instant, and I like his chances of doing just that against a defense that projects to be ordinary at best.
With Alejado at the helm, the Rainbow Warriors will profile as a live underdog against just about any team thanks to their quick-strike offense.
But against one of the worst programs in the Power 4? They have every chance of pulling the upset.
The Play: Hawaii moneyline (+164, DraftKings)
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
