New Mexico proved to be one of the best Group of Five teams by the end of the season. Back in August, it would’ve been tough to imagine the Lobos reaching this point.
New Mexico (9-3) was the No. 9 team in HERO Sports’ G5 Top 25 media poll. Tight end Dorian Thomas, linebacker Jaxton Eck, and defensive lineman Keyshawn James-Newby were all G5 All-Americans for the Lobos.
With several standout players, UNM rose to prominence quickly. After losing to Michigan to start the season, New Mexico won three consecutive games including a Power Four victory, 35-10 over UCLA.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
And after falling in back-to-back contests on the road against San Jose State and Boise State, New Mexico won six consecutive matchups. The Lobos beat Nevada, Utah State, UNLV, Colorado State, Air Force, and San Diego State. SDSU and UNLV were both tied for the top of the Mountain West standings, along with UNM and Boise State, at 6-2 in league play. However, Boise State and UNLV won the tiebreaker via computer rankings and played in the conference title game.
Still, it was a great first season with Jason Eck as the Lobos’ head coach. There’s new energy around the program. They beat in-state foe NMSU in a highly-attended matchup and were 3-1 against teams that will be in the Pac-12 next season.
Now New Mexico could very well end the year with another P4 upset win. The Lobos will face Minnesota in the Rate Bowl.
New Mexico vs. Minnesota Betting Odds
Minnesota is a -1.5 college football betting odds favorite against New Mexico, with the Over/Under being 43.5 as of this writing. The moneyline for New Mexico is +100, while it’s -120 for Minnesota.
New Mexico vs. Minnesota On TV
The matchup between New Mexico and Minnesota will be televised on ESPN.
The game will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 26. The contest is taking place at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
New Mexico vs. Minnesota Prediction
I predict New Mexico will win and therefore cover the 1.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 43.5 total points.
This is a clash between two solid defenses. Minnesota is 41st in the country in total defense with 342.2 yards per game allowed. New Mexico is in the top 50 in the nation in scoring defense (22.5 points per game allowed) and total defense (359.4 yards per game allowed).
I also believe New Mexico has enough offensive talent to pull off the upset.
Lobos quarterback Jack Layne has thrown for 2,398 yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions with a 66% completion rate while rushing for 150 yards and four TDs.
Damon Bankston (578 yards and five touchdowns) and DJ McKinney (454 yards and seven touchdowns) lead UNM on the ground, while Bankston has also caught 26 passes for 374 yards and three TDs this season.
Wide receiver Keagan Johnson is the Lobos’ leading pass catcher, as he has 730 yards and three touchdowns on 57 receptions. G5 All-American tight end Dorian Thomas has caught 53 passes for 545 yards and four touchdowns.
I think this will be a close game, but I ultimately believe the Lobos will end their fantastic season with a remarkable victory.
