The investigation, first reported by a Honolulu TV station, was triggered by an anonymous letter that implicated an unnamed player or players on Nov. 3. Two days later, favored Hawaii squandered a 28-7 halftime lead and lost to the visiting Aggies, 35-31.
In addition to the blown lead, the game also featured significant early line movement. The Las Vegas Wynn opened Hawaii as a 7.5-point favorite over the Aggies on Sunday, Oct. 30, but the number was down to 3.5 by the next morning. According to the Covers.com line history, the Warriors opened as high as 9-point favorites at one offshore book.
The majority of Nevada and offshore sportsbooks opened the game at Hawaii -4 or -3.5 and the line bounced around that number until kickoff.
“There was some wise-guy buzz about that game even before these allegations surfaced,” a Las Vegas industry source told Covers.com Tuesday night.
Las Vegas professional handicapper Ted Sevransky watched the entire game and said, "if that game was 'fixed' in any way, I sure as hell didn't see it."
No sportsbook in Nevada or offshore had confirmed to Covers.com any unusual betting patterns on Hawaii games this season as of late Tuesday night, and school officials have not indicated that the allegations involved this season.
Honolulu police said Tuesday that there is currently not enough evidence to open a criminal investigation.
Hawaii is around a 17-point home favorite over Tulane, but multiple offshore sportsbooks had taken the game off the board as of 10 p.m. ET, Tuesday.
Hawaii is 5-6 straight up and 4-7 against the spread. The Warriors are 1-5 ATS since Oct. 14.
