The 2021 EasyPost Hawaii Bowl features the 6-6 Memphis Tigers against the 6-7 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Here is the 2021 EasyPost Hawaii Bowl Preview.
Memphis didn’t have their best season, but still qualified for a bowl with six wins. The Tigers did lose to a team that didn’t make a bowl game in Temple. They have two wins over bowl-eligible teams in Mississippi State and SMU.
The Tigers score 30.3 points per game, which ranks them 52nd in the country. They rush for 136.2 yards (ranked 90th) and pass for 298.8 yards per game (ranked 18th).
Seth Hanigan has played decently for the Tigers this season at quarterback. He has passed for 3,322 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 59.8 percent completion. Hanigan has four receivers who have over 300 receiving yards on the year. The lead receiver is Calvin Austin III who has hauled in 74 passes for 1,149 yards and eight touchdowns. Tight end Sean Dykes has also been a solid target with 48 catches for 657 yards and seven touchdowns.
On the ground, Brandon Thomas and Rodrigues Clark have carried the load. Thomas leads the team with 116 carries for 669 yards and eight touchdowns. Clark has aided the running game with 387 yards on 79 carries for four touchdowns.
The defense has struggled this season, allowing 29.3 points per game, ranking them 92nd in the country. They allow 167.4 rushing yards (ranked 90th) and 250.8 passing yards per game (ranked 103rd). Linebacker JJ Russell (123) and defensive back Quindell Johnson (104) each have over 100 tackles on the season. Defensive lineman Jaylon Allen paces the team with five sacks. Defensive back Greg Rubin has a team lead of 14 passes defended.
Although they have a losing record, Hawaii has the necessary six wins to qualify for a bowl game. Their two wins over bowl-eligible teams came over Wyoming and Fresno State. They lost to two teams who weren’t able to qualify for a bowl game in UNLV and San Jose State.
Hawaii’s offense has put up 28.8 points per game, which ranks them 64th in the country. They rush for 142.8 yards (ranked 86th) and pass for 262.2 yards per game (ranked 36th).
Chevan Cordeiro has been quarterbacking the Warriors this season after getting some experience over the last few seasons. He has passed for 2,793 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on 55.2 percent completion. He has entered the transfer portal though, so Brayden Schager is expected to start. Three wide receivers have over 400 receiving yards for Hawaii. Wide receiver Nick Mardner has 46 receptions for 913 yards and five touchdowns. Calvin Turner Jr. has proven to do great things with the ball in his hands with 73 catches for 876 yards and four touchdowns.
Turner also helps out running the football with 316 rushing yards. Cordeiro has 342 rushing yards from the quarterback position, but Dae Dae Hunter is the leading rusher on the team with 651 yards and three touchdowns. He too has decided to transfer and will not play in the bowl game. Dedrick Parson leads the team in rushing touchdowns with eight, but has also racked up 618 rushing yards.
The defense allows 31.4 points per game, which ranks them 98th in the FBS. They give up 156.3 rushing yards (ranked 74th) and 289.7 passing yards per game (ranked 126th). Linebacker Darius Muasau leads the team with 108 tackles with defensive back Khoury Bethley not too far behind him at 99 tackles. Muasau paces the team with seven sacks, while Bethley has a team lead of five interceptions on the year.
Hawaii may have a home game for the bowl, but Memphis will give them trouble. The Tigers will take advantage of the Warriors’ bad pass defense. Austin III is set to have a big day against the Hawaii defense and the Tigers should win. With the number of players Hawaii has transferring out, it will be hard for them to compete.
Memphis Tigers 38 Hawaii Warriors 20
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