College Football Odds: New Mexico Lobos vs. Boise State Broncos
With another losing season in the books, New Mexico fans are eager to look toward the future when a household name will be coaching on the sidelines.
Prior to their bye week, the Lobos were handed their tenth loss of the season at Wyoming. The Cowboys took a 31-10 decision but UNM managed to cover the NCAA betting lines as 24-point underdogs.
During the idle week, New Mexico athletics announced that Bob Davie would be the head coach in 2012. This created a buzz because Davie hadn’t coached since he was fired by Notre Dame in 2001.
Davie has the unenviable task of turning the Lobos football program around. He said that he would not tinker with the team during the last week of play. But the players and coaches know they’re in an audition of sorts heading into next year, which should provide motivation.
Nobody is expecting the Lobos to pull off the upset Saturday. Of the 22 men who started in Week 1, only 11 will be taking the field this weekend.
The quarterback position has been a revolving door because of injuries and ineligibilities. B.R. Holbrook will start but he’s been hobbled all year. Backup Tarean Austin has to pass a few classes to dress so that leaves just one other capable quarterback, walk-on Kevin Chavez.
Despite losing to TCU a couple of weeks ago, Boise State is just one spot away from reaching the top 6 in the BCS standings, which would ensure an invite to a BCS Bowl. On Senior Night, the Broncos are going to be eager to run over the Lobos.
“It’s going to be pretty tough, but I think the kids will be excited,” interim UNM coach George Barlow said. “They’ve already played in some tough environments earlier this season.”
And they didn’t fare too well in those “tough environments.” New Mexico didn’t cover the spread at Arkansas or TCU, losing by a combined score of 121-3.
A similar outcome should be expected Saturday night. The Broncos got out of the gate slow during last week’s 36-14 win over Wyoming, but that was an early start. When Boise State plays a game that starts after 4 p.m. it averages 48.1 points.
There were some personnel changes on the defense side of the ball against Wyoming. The Broncos started four true safeties in the secondary. There have been seven different starters in the back half this season because of injuries but mostly ineffectiveness.
“Let’s put our four smartest football players on the field and let’s go from there,” defensive backs coach Marcel Yates said.
The change kept the Cowboys from reaching the 80-yard mark through the air. Boise’s 21st-ranked defense held Wyoming to just 191 yards and one touchdown.
Kellen Moore will finish his illustrious four-year collegiate career as one of the most efficient passes in college football history. This season, he is second in completion percentage, third in touchdown passes and fourth in the nation in pass efficiency.
