ESPN's UH vs UAB Preview

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Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
Hawaii Warriors vs. Alabama-Birmingham Blazers
Who: Hawaii vs. UAB
When: Dec. 24, Fri., 7:00 ET (ESPN)
Where: Honolulu, Hawaii

The Sheraton Hawaii Bowl will be played on the Warriors' home turf at Aloha Stadium. An interesting twist for a game that is shaping up to be one of the most entertaining and high-scoring affairs of the postseason. Hawaii features the passing of QB Timmy Chang ,who became the NCAA's all-time yardage leader earlier in the year.

UAB owns one of the nation's most prolific offenses, as the Blazers average more than 30 points per game. QB Darrell Hackney leads the charge for the Blazers and is complemented nicely by record-setting WR Roddy White. Both teams have tremendous talent on the offensive side of the ball, but the Warriors hold a clear advantage in terms of experience.

This will be UAB's first ever bowl appearance, compared to Hawaii's fourth in the last six years. Will the pressure prove too much for the emerging Blazers or will Hackney find a way to keep pace with Chang and lead UAB to a milestone win?

When Hawaii has the ball
Hawaii run offense vs. UAB run defense
The Warriors employ the run-and-shoot offense and throw the ball nearly 50 times per game, so don't expect too much production from RB Michael Brewster. However, it's important that Brewster be involved enough to keep the Blazers honest.

Brewster is averaging 6.2 yards per carry and has been particularly effective running stretch plays out of the shotgun formation. These plays, when run out of the shogun, resemble the read-option in one distinct way. The action between the quarterback and running back is very similar, as Chang will ride the ball into Brewster's stomach after receiving the snap.

Instead of reading the defensive end to make a decision, Chang will simply hand the ball off to Brewster and roll away from the play. This roll action will help freeze the linebackers and ultimately create more space for Brewster. The stretch play also calls for zone-blocking, which is designed to create multiple running lanes and force opposing defensive linemen to string plays out horizontally.
Advantage: Draw

Hawaii pass offense vs. UAB pass defense
With Brewster keeping the Blazers honest, Chang should have plenty of time to go through his progressions, identify any mismatches and deliver the ball. This is important because Chang is a streaky passer who has a tendency to struggle early in games. Getting him off to a fast start will be paramount to Hawaii's success. The good news is Chang will be working against a Blazers' pass defense ranked 106th nationally.

UAB's secondary lacks both talent and depth at cornerback. WR Chad Owens, who leads the team in receptions (94), receiving yards (1,176) and touchdowns (15), will likely draw most of the Blazers' attention. However, Chang has a number of other options including slot backs Gerald Welch and Britton Komine, as well as sophomore WR Jason Rivers. In addition, Brewster is a quality receiver out of the backfield and should give Chang a means to keep the chains moving.
Advantage: Hawaii

When UAB has the ball
UAB run offense vs. Hawaii run defense
Timmy Chang should have plenty of success against a porous UAB defense.
The Blazers would like to trade blows with Hawaii in a shootout, but they just don't have the weapons to keep pace. As a result, UAB will rely more heavily on its running game. This will allow the Blazers to control the clock and limit the number of opportunities Chang gets to put points on the board.

RB Dan Burks is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and has the combination of size and strength to handle an increased workload. Burks will also benefit from the presence of backup Corey White, who normally contributes about 10 touches per game. Both backs should have plenty of success working against a Warriors' run defense that has allowed more yards this season than any other team in the nation. However, the problem with employing such a scheme is that it requires the defense to keep the score close. If Hawaii jumps out to an early lead, the Blazers will have to abandon the run in an effort to come back.
Advantage: UAB

UAB pass offense vs. Hawaii pass defense
Although UAB would like to run the ball and keep Chang off the field, Hawaii's ability to score in bunches will make this very difficult. The good news is that Hackney and White have emerged as one of the nation's best tandems. The pair hooked up 65 times for 1,339 yards and 13 scores this year. They're sure to come up with a couple of big plays, working against a Warriors' pass defense ranked 67th in the country.

The bad news is that a couple of big plays won't be enough to get past Hawaii. The Warriors will likely roll their coverage to White's side of the field. This presents UAB with a huge problem, considering the second leading receiver has just 19 receptions.
Advantage: UAB

Special teams
Warriors' PK Justin Ayatt has been solid, connecting on 10 of his 14 field goal attempts. He has excellent leg strength and the range to connect on field goal attempts beyond 50 yards. P Kurt Milne is averaging 39.7 yards per punt and has placed 13 of his punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Owens has brought back four punts for scores.

The Blazers' kicking game is in good shape, with PK Nick Hayes and P Parker Mullins. However, it will be extremely important that Mullins gets plenty of hangtime on his attempts. If he fails to do so, Owens has the speed and vision to make UAB pay. The Blazers return game has been solid, with Reggie Lindsey pulling double-duty. Lindsey is averaging 10.9 yards per punt return and 24.7 yards per kickoff return. He also brought one punt back for a score.
Advantage: Hawaii

Bottom line
Hawaii's depth at receiver will allow the Warriors to jump out to an early lead. This will force UAB to abandon the run and ultimately turn this game into a shootout. The Blazers will keep the score close with a couple of big plays in the passing game. However, it won't be enough to get past Hawaii.

The Warriors will roll their coverage to White's side of the field and limit his production, which should lead to some stalled drives for UAB. Unfortunately, the Blazers can't afford to stall too many times on offense. In the end, UAB just doesn't have the kind of firepower to knock the Warriors off at home.

Prediction: Hawaii 44, UAB 37