Bodog Beat

There’s no place like Honolulu for the holidays. (Flickr Images)

The Hawaii Warriors (7-6 SU, 7-5 ATS) will be bowling at Aloha Stadium for the fifth time since the inaugural Hawaii Bowl in 2002. The Warriors are 3-1 SU and 2-2 ATS in this situation, winning and covering each of the last two bowls on their home turf. They’ll go for three Wednesday night against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-6 SU and ATS).

Notre Dame is a 2-point favorite against a WAC opponent. That’s a slap in the face for coach Charlie Weis; his rebuilding program is 1-4 SU and ATS in its last five, but against far superior competition than the Warriors. Hawaii’s 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS record since the end of September was built largely on opponents like Idaho and Washington State. The underrated Irish defense, spearheaded by mammoth NT Ian Williams, should make the difference.