BOWL PREVIEW: NOTRE DAME vs. HAWAII

December 23, 2008

Despite a 6-6 record with only one win coming against a team that finished with a winning record, Notre Dame will be spending Christmas in the Hawaiian islands when they take on Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl.

The Fighting Irish and Rainbows meet up on Christmas Eve at 8 PM. The latest NCAA Football Odds have the Irish as a 2 and a half point favorite.

Charlie Weiss will be looking for a new lease on life as the Irish coach. pressure mounted throughout the season, but peaked when the Irish were beaten at home by Syracuse late in the season. There was a lot of uncertainty about his future, but the University has announced Weiss will return for the 2009 season.

Weiss made a lot of promises and confident statements about his coaching ability when hired at Notre Dame. To this point, he does not have a lot to show for it as this year comes on the heels of a 3-9 season last year. Of Notre Dame's six wins in 2008, only Navy posted a winning record. The cumulative record of the other five opponents that ND beat was 14-46, a .233 winning percentage.

To be quite honest, Hawaii is not the offensive power that they have been int he past. They come into the game following a 7-5 season out of the WAC. For Hawaii, this is a big deal...while at Notre Dame, these are no the bowl games they were expecting when they signed up.

This game will mean more to Hawaii, playing at home...look for them to put another nail in the Weiss coffin.

Prediction:

Hawaii 30
Notre Dame 26