How will the Warriors do? My game-by-game says 6-7

We are heading into Norm Chow’s fourth season as University of Hawaii football coach. Can this be the first to end with a winning record?

Key factors? As always, but more than usual, injuries. As always, but more than usual, the effects of travel.

In 2011, Greg McMackin’s fourth and final season, UH went 6-7. If the Rainbow Warriors avoid injuries they will do better than that and make the Hawaii Bowl for the first time since 2010. But this is football; injuries are reality, and UH isn’t deep enough at most positions to overcome them.

Here’s a game-by-game answer to the question I’ve been asked the most the past month: "How will the Warriors do?"

>> Colorado, Sept. 3: One of the young Buffs’ wins last year was against Hawaii. The passing combo of Sefo Liufau to Nelson Spruce will be hard to stop. Loss, 0-1.

>> At Ohio State, Sept. 12: Check, please. Loss, 0-2.

>> UC Davis, Sept. 19: The Aggies, with 21 returning starters, are experienced — at losing. They were 1-7 in the Big Sky and 2-9 overall last year. Win, 1-2.

>> At Wisconsin, Sept. 26: The Badgers defense, under former UH coordinator Dave Aranda, has been dominating practices. The offensive line’s injury problems have forced redshirt freshman Micah Kapoi from Kapolei into the lineup. Hawaii’s young defensive line won’t be able to take advantage. Loss, 1-3.

>> At Boise State, Oct. 3: The Broncos return almost everyone from a 12-2 team, and will be the third road foe in four weeks that started the season ranked. Loss, 1-4.

>> San Diego State, Oct. 10: UH starts Mountain West play against Donnel Pumphrey, who had 182 of his school-record 1,867 rushing yards in 2014 against the Warriors, and one of the conference’s best defenses. Loss, 1-5.

>> New Mexico, Oct. 17: Bob Davie is a fourth-year coach who won four games last year, too. Hawaii wins the hot-seat bowl, somewhat quelling calls for midseason replacement of Chow. Win, 2-5.

>> At Nevada, Oct. 24: The Warriors haven’t won at Reno since the Ice Man Age, when Dan Kelly had to kick his field goal twice to keep UH’s undefeated 2007 season intact. Tyler Stewart (zero career passes) replaces four-year starter Cody Fajardo at QB, but enough of last year’s Pack returns. Loss, 2-6.

>> Air Force, Oct. 31: This would’ve been a nice game to have a bye in front of, to prepare for the Falcons’ option attack. Alas, that is not the case. Loss, 2-7.

>> At UNLV, Nov. 7: Tony Sanchez will be the latest coach to learn college is a lot different than high school. Win, 3-7.

>> Fresno State, Nov. 14: Presumably, the Bulldogs will have named a starting quarterback by this point. They hadn’t less than two weeks before their season opener. Win, 4-7.

>> San Jose State, Nov. 21: Last year, the Warriors shut out the Spartans despite them dominating the stats. This time it should be more clear-cut. Win, 5-7.

>> Louisiana-Monroe, Nov. 28: In a perfect world this would’ve been the season opener, not closer. This is not the same team that beat No. 12 Arkansas in 2012. Win, 6-7.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.