San Diego State has it. The University of Hawaii doesn't.
If these two teams were cars lined up side-by-side on a two-lane road, the Aztecs would be a souped-up Mustang and the Rainbows would be a long-forgotten Pinto.
Blow out, baby. It'll be the kind all the announcers talk about.
"Did you see the final Friday night between Hawaii and San Diego State? It was 70-0, and the score wasn't a true indication of how lopsided it was."
Oh, yes. Don't think the UH coaches aren't staying up late nights, afraid to get on the charter plane. They have these "What-me-worried" smiles plastered on their mugs, but inside they're waiting for the other Nike to drop.
Having a heart is one thing. Being blessed with blazing speed is something else. In recent memory, the Aztecs have had too much of it for the slower-footed Rainbows.
Hawaii hasn't beaten San Diego State in six years. During that drought, the Aztecs have won by an eye-popping average of 46-22.
If it wasn't Marshall Faulk running for 300 yards in 1992, or for five touchdowns in 1991, it was Darnay Scott snaring 13 passes in the same two games for 224 yards.
Even current stars Billy Blanton and Az Hakim have left their marks on the Rainbows.
Blanton - the No. 1-rated passer in the nation - completed 20 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns in 1994, and 16 for 321 yards and two TDs in '95.
As a freshman, Hakim caught four passes for 123 yards and a touchdown to help lead the Aztecs to a 49-10 win last year at Aloha Stadium.
Tomorrow's Western Athletic Conference game is at Jack Murphy Stadium. The last time the Rainbows won there, UH senior quarterback Glenn Freitas was a 14-year-old kid wandering the back roads of Waianae.
He's been around for more of what island boys call nasty lickings than he cares to remember. Earlier this week, he spoke for all the fifth-year seniors who want to even the score.
"This team has beat us bad every year I've been here," Freitas said. "I remember Faulk leaving after the third quarter my sophomore season because they were so far ahead.
"Even when we went to the Holiday Bowl, they beat us pretty bad (52-28) up there, so we've got a lot of payback. They're probably overconfident. We'd like to take advantage of that."
Unfortunately for UH head coach Fred vonAppen, that's about as likely as a six-inch snowfall this weekend in Waikiki.
Granted, the Rainbows are going over there with the attitude that they can win. VonAppen wouldn't have it any other way.
But secretly, the coaching staff wants to keep it manageable. They're hoping for something more like the 20-0 loss at Fresno State, rather than the 66-0 drubbing at Wyoming.
Hawaii offensive coordinator Guy Benjamin wouldn't even discuss trying to match touchdowns with San Diego State. He already knows that won't work.
"If we get into a shooting match, we're done," Benjamin said. "They have one of the best-rated offenses in the country and we have one of the worst. We don't compare.
"What we have to do is try to play optimum on offense and have our defense control them as much as possible. It's obviously a difficult task."
More like an overwhelming one.
The only breaks Hawaii will catch in this shortened week is that top running back George Jones is suspended, and talented receiver Will Blackwell is hurt.
Last year, Blackwell caught a 29-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the game. Jones rushed for 164 yards and three scores to fill Faulk's shoes nicely.
"Even without them, they're still too much for us," vonAppen said. "They have guys who can step in and get the job done.
"The biggest difference between the two teams is their speed. If they get somebody out in the open, they'll run right past us.
"Look what that (Geoff) Turner kid did to us last weekend. He scored from 54 yards out on the second play of the game. We can't let that happen in San Diego, or it will get ugly in a hurry."
As you would expect, Aztecs head coach Ted Tollner views the Rainbows a little differently. He said during the conference call on Monday that Hawaii could have easily knocked off Colorado State.
"We've been watching them get better and better on film each week," Tollner said. "We can't afford to go out there and think that all we have to do is show up to get a win. We haven't played in a while, so it's important for us to come out and play well. If we do that, we give ourselves a chance to win."
Who Hawaii (1-5, 0-3 Western Athletic Conference) vs. San Diego State (2-1, 0-0)
Kickoff 4 p.m., Jack Murphy Stadium
TV Live on KFVE
Radio Live on KCCN 1420-AM
Coaches Hawaii's Fred vonAppen (1-5, first year). San Diego State's Ted Tollner (40-32-1, sixth year)
Attendance A crowd of about 30,000 is expected (capacity is 61,121)
Weather Partly cloudy skies,
temperature in the 60s
Point spread San Diego State is favored by 26