The Colorado Buffaloes take a long trip west to open the 2015 season against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Below is the Colorado vs. Hawaii prediction and game preview. 

Colorado vs. Hawaii Prediction & Preview

Why You Need To Care

Colorado and Hawaii meet in Honolulu, both looking to parlay their most talented teams in years into a step closer to respectability. The Buffaloes made tangible strides in Mike MacIntyre’s second year in 2014, though, it couldn’t prevent the program from finishing below .500 for a ninth year in a row. Norm Chow is trying to keep the Warriors afloat amid financial constraints and 29 losses over the last three years.

Why Colorado Will Win

QB Sefo Liufau is a junior. WR Nelson Spruce remained in Boulder after catching 106 balls in 2014. The Buffalo offense will again rock this season, beginning with the first test against a Hawaii squad still searching for a presence at the line of scrimmage. If the Warriors don’t pressure Liufau, he might burn them for 400 yards through the air.

Why Hawaii Will Win

Does Chow—finally—have a quarterback he feels he can build an offense around? The Warriors were impotent last season, but former USC transfer Max Wittek will be looking to do a Carson Palmer impersonation in his finale. Wittek is an upgrade at the position, and top receivers Marcus Kemp and Quinton Pedroza will be able to find the soft spots in a flimsy Colorado pass defense.

Player Who Matters

The Buffs really, really need LB Addison Gillam to be healthy throughout this season. He’s a heart-and-soul type defender who was in and out of the lineup a season ago. Colorado will continue to rank in the bottom half of the Pac-12 on D. But with Gillam back at full strength, the Buffs will be tougher against the run and more consistent in the open field.

What’s Going To Happen?

Liufau vs. Wittek shapes up as an entertaining matchup of quarterbacks who’ll look to victimize vulnerable defenses. Wittek will provide a spark, but the Buffaloes are further ahead in their development as a passing team. Spruce will catch at least 10 passes and score a couple of touchdowns, helping the Buffs pulling away in the second half.

Colorado vs. Hawaii Score Prediction

Drum roll, please … the Colorado vs. Hawaii prediction is …

Colorado 41, Hawaii 24

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