The New Mexico football team expected to be staying home this bowl season and playing in the New Mexico Bowl, which is being held on the Lobos’ home field at University Stadium. Instead, Christmas came early in Albuquerque.
New Mexico found out it was heading to the Rate Bowl the morning of the Lobos’ annual end-of-season banquet in early December. Head coach Jason Eck got to stand in front of his team and tell his players they earned an invitation to what he called a “top-notch bowl game.”
A lot of pieces had to come together to make it happen, including a slew of bowl-eligible teams around the country declining bowl invitations, but Eck said he couldn’t be happier for his players, especially after one of New Mexico’s most successful seasons in recent memory.
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” Eck told reporters earlier this month. “I was hoping to really have an opponent, which we got, that will give us credit nationally if we beat them and give us a chance to move up in the rankings.”
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
The Lobos (9-3, 6-2 Mountain West) will make the short trip to Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, to face Minnesota (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) on Friday. A win would mark New Mexico’s first 10-win season since 1982.
Eck has already led the Lobos to nine wins for the first time since 2016. That was also the last time they played in a bowl game. Eck is the first coach in New Mexico history to lead the team to a bowl in his first season. He was rewarded with a five-year contract extension.
New Mexico won its final six games of the regular season, including a 40-35 win at eventual Mountain West runner-up UNLV and a 23-17 double-overtime win against San Diego State. The Lobos found themselves in a four-way tie for first place in the conference, but Boise State and UNLV made the title game via computer metrics.
Defense has been the Lobos’ bread and butter, especially against the run, where they’re giving up 113.4 yards a game. The unit is led at middle linebacker by Eck’s son, Jaxton, who earned Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors after ranking No. 2 in the conference with 126 tackles and 10.5 tackles a game.
Minnesota ended its regular season with a 17-7 win over Wisconsin. The Gophers are led by quarterback Drake Lindsey, who has thrown for 2,235 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Running backs Darius Taylor (554 yards and three TDs) and Fame Ijeboi (441 yards and two TDs) have split the load in the backfield.
New Mexico vs. Minnesota Betting Odds
Minnesota is a 2.5-point college football betting odds favorite on BetMGM as of this writing, and the Over/Under is 42.5 points. The moneyline is at -125 for the Gophers and +105 for New Mexico.
New Mexico vs. Minnesota On TV
The Rate Bowl featuring New Mexico and Minnesota at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, will be televised on ESPN.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 26.
New Mexico vs. Minnesota Prediction
I predict New Mexico wins 24-17, and I predict the game goes Under 42.5 points.
The Lobos were one of the hottest Group of Five teams in the country over the last two months of the season. I think that momentum carries into the offseason on the back of a big win thanks to the defense.
If it weren’t for San Diego State, there wouldn’t be a defense in the Mountain West that is near as consistent, tenacious, or opportunistic as the Lobos. They’re stout against the run, the back end has come up with plenty of momentum-swinging turnovers, and New Mexico leads the Mountain West with 33 sacks.
The Lobos also have a few playmakers on offense, including running back Damon Bankston, a Weber State transfer who put up 154 yards and a touchdown on the ground and caught a touchdown pass in New Mexico’s 35-10 win over UCLA earlier this season.
