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This teams are not entirely irresistible, nor entirely immovable: Hawaii’s defense is pretty good, however, particularly considering the speed with which the U.H. offense matriculates the ball down the field. So let’s change that old, familiar phrase — “What happens when irresistible Oklahoma meets immovable Nebraska?” — for something a bit different, a bit more fitting for tonight’s Hawaii Bowl — What happens when the scoreboard operator at Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium collapses from exhaustion?

This is always a fun, entertaining, high-scoring affair; in one instance, the Hawaii Bowl combined points with a rather raucous brawl: the 2003 version, pitting the Warriors against Houston, ended with the two teams exchanging punches, kicks and helmets along the 50-yard line.

I doubt we’ll see a “Roadhouse”-style atmosphere at the end of tonight’s game, though we shouldn’t lack for fireworks. These are two enormously talented offensive teams, each of which ranks in the top 10 nationally in total and scoring offense. Hawaii also leads the passing yards per game and passing touchdowns, while Tulsa’s offensive attack is slightly more balanced.

Behind first-year offensive coordinator Chad Morris, the Golden Hurricanes have recovered the confidence that was sorely lacking a season ago, the program’s first without Gus Malzahn — he’s done similar wonders at Auburn, as we’re well aware. Tulsa’s offense, fifth in national in total yardage at 503.5 yards per game, combines the nation’s 16th-ranked passing attack with the nation’s 15th-ranked ground game.

The other F.B.S. teams ranked in the top 16 in both categories? There are none: just Tulsa. Boise State comes in at sixth in passing and 24th in rushing, Oklahoma State second and 28th, but Tulsa is the only program with such a sterling sense of balance on the offensive side of the ball.

So Hawaii’s a bit more one-dimensional; that doesn’t make the Warriors any less effective, and it sure doesn’t make the Warriors any less dangerous. When the passing game is rolling, U.H. is close to unstoppable: Boise State slowed down the Warriors, but no other opponent held U.H. to fewer than 287 yards passing.

Only one other opponent held U.H. to less than 315 yards through the air, in fact: it was Nevada, a six-point loser at Aloha Stadium in mid-October. Hawaii topped the 500-yard mark twice, including a 593-yard showing in a win over San Jose State.

What of Tulsa? More of the same: only two teams — S.M.U. and Notre Dame — held the Golden Hurricanes to less than 400 yards of offense, with Tulsa winning in South Bend but dropping a tough three-point affair to S.M.U. two weeks earlier. That loss gave the Mustangs the Conference USA West division crown at Tulsa’s expense.

Long story short: it’s the Hawaii Bowl, after all, where points are always in fashion — that Hawaii and Tulsa are the two teams in question only makes the potential for offensive fireworks all the more probable. Sit down, relax and enjoy the show.

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