UNLV will become the first team to visit The Island in 2026.
Dan Mullen’s Rebels fell short in a Week 0 clash against Memphis and now face a must-win game against the Rainbow Warriors if they’re going to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Hawaii, which lost to Stanford in Week 0, will also consider this a crucial contest as they fancy themselves as a serious contender in the Mountain West.
UNLV is a three-point favorite on the road.
UNLV vs. Hawaii pick
Going to Hawaii is a tricky trip for any team, but the Rebels should be pretty confident of their chances to get a win in Honolulu.
While the defense wasn’t able to hold the fort against Memphis, the offense looked impressive with Jackson Arnold leading the way under center.
The former five-star recruit still needs to find a way to be more efficient, but he was dangerous through the air and on the ground, and will benefit from playing a defense that just got overrun by Stanford.
Micah Alejado and the Hawaii offense took some time to get going against Stanford, but they did their part in the second half. The problem was it was too little, too late, as the Cardinal were able to rack up 483 yards of total offense against the Rainbow Warriors.
That spells trouble, especially since Stanford’s offense projects to be one of the weakest in the Power 4.
Catch up on The Post’s college football betting predictions and previews for the 2026 season
Alejado is a game-breaker and can turn a game around in an instant, but he’s going up against a similar player in Arnold, and the latter will have the benefit of taking on a defense that really looked off in Week 0.
This number is being inflated a bit by Hawaii’s notorious home-field advantage.
I think UNLV should clear this spread without too much fuss.
The Play: UNLV -3 (-110, DraftKings)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
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.
