Vanderbilt vs Hawaii Picks and Odds (Dec. 22)

• The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors battle the Vanderbilt Commodores at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic as betting underdogs
• The Rainbow Warriors are winless in their past two versus Division I opponents, while Vanderbilt vies for just its second road win of the season
• Read on for all the odds and trends ahead of Wednesday night’s matchup at  SimpliFI Arena at Stan Sheriff Center

The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors will face their first Division I opponent in over three weeks when they host the Vanderbilt Commodores in the opening round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic as 6.5-point underdogs.

Tip off is set for 11:59pm ET on Wednesday at SimpliFI Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Vanderbilt Commodores vs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Odds

Odds at Fanduel as of December 22, 2021.

Commodores vs Rainbow Warriors Betting Trends

Wednesday night’s matchup marks the first meeting between these two teams since November 1990. The Commodores have earned the win in each of their two previous dates with Hawaii, capped by a 74-70 victory in their last clash 31 years ago. Both of these teams have struggled to produce consistent results at the sportsbooks this season. Vanderbilt’s 77-51 win over Austin Peay last weekend marked the team’s first straight up and against the spread victory in four outings. The team’s recent slide began with an 84-72 road loss to SMU, which also dumped their road record to 1-1 SU and ATS. The Rainbow Warriors return to action riding a two-game SU losing streak against Division I opponents, but have compiled a 3-2 ATS record against top-flight competition this season.

Vanderbilt Commodores Outlook

A date with the slumping Austin Peay Governors is just what the Commodores need to snap out of their slide. Vandy never trailed while romping to an easy 77-51 victory. With the win, the Commodores closed the door on a 0-3 SU run, during which they fell to defeat by an average margin of 7.7 points per game. That run included a stunning 72-68 loss to Temple as 8-point home chalk.

🎥 Looking back at last night's win over Austin Peay. #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/NfcSG5HS1I

— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) December 19, 2021

A sturdy defence played a key role in the Commodores’ steady 5-1 SU start to the season. The club limited opponents to just 55.2 points per game during that stretch, but have tallied just one victory when surrendering 69 or more points this season. Despite those struggles, the Commodores maintain a respectable rating at Kenpom, where sit at No. 78 in adjusted defensive efficiency. The road has also been particularly unkind to the Commodores. The team has tallied just four SU wins in their past 32 away contests, and have also lost outright in three of their past four as road favorites.

This set is perfect evidence of why getting Scotty Pippen Jr. off ball is so important.

Chatman initiates the offense and Pippen Jr. cutting along the baseline draws attention from three AP defenders. That leads to a simple high-post entry and 2 FTs as defenders are distracted. pic.twitter.com/5zNtRZGmeU

— Justin Hershey (@justinhershey26) December 20, 2021

The good news for the Commodores has been the continued steady play of Scotty Pippen Jr. The junior guard has cemented his position as the team’s scoring leader while averaging 21 points per game over his past four outings, and also leads the squad in both both assists and steals.

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Outlook

The Rainbow Warriors return to action for the first time since posting a dominating 88-52 victory over the Division II Hawaii Pacific Sharks back on December 8. The team’s last date with a Division I opponent came on November 30, when they squandered a halftime lead on their way to a 70-58 road loss to the Santa Clara Broncos as 11.5-point underdogs.

Hawaii Defeats Hawaii-Pacific 88-52 In Men’s Basketball https://t.co/IIyn9DImaW

— Hawaii Media Source (@HImediasource) December 9, 2021

The Rainbow Warriors have also been prone to slow starts in two home dates with Division I opponents. Hawaii overcame a slow start with a big second-half performance in a 73-61 win over Pacific as 1.5-point underdogs back on November 14. It was also a tale of two teams in their November 11 clash with Northern Colorado. The Rainbow Warriors spotted the Bears a 16-point lead at recess before embarking on an impressive comeback bid that fell just short, ending in a narrow 81-78 loss as 2.5-point underdogs.

Big man rising…
Mate Colina the last 3️⃣ games:

🏀 23 points, 9-12 FG
🏀 15 points, 10 rebounds
🏀 13 point, 10 rebounds#ManaOhana | #GoBows 🌈 pic.twitter.com/Kq36gPGJgd

— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) December 3, 2021

Currently averaging 71 points per game in Division I action, the Rainbow warriors have received offensive contributions from up and down the lineup. Four different players have led the team in scoring over their five Division I contests.

Australian Mate Colina led the way with 13 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s recent loss to Santa Clara, and has now averaged 17 points and nine rebounds over the team’s past three Division I matchups.

The Pick: Commodores -6.5 (-110); Over33.5 (-110)