New Mexico Lobos vs Arizona Wildcats Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 08/31/2024

Game Time: 10:30 pm ET, Saturday, August 31, 2024

Venue:  Arizona Stadium, Tucson, AZ

Where to Watch:  ESPN

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  UNM +30.5, Arizona -30.5; Over/Under:  57 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  UNM +30.5, Arizona -30.5; Over/Under:  57.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  UNM +31.5, Arizona -31.5; Over/Under:  57.5 points

New Mexico Lobos:  0-1 (0-0) (12th place, MWC)

Arizona Wildcats:  0-0 (0-0) (Big 12)

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New Mexico Lobos:  lost their last game at home against the Montana State Bobcats 35-31.

Arizona Wildcats:  N/A

New Mexico finished last season with a 4-8 record overall and they had a 2-6 record in their conference games too.  They were 2-4 in their home games, 2-4 in their road games, and they were also 0-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be on the road for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 27.2 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 35.1 points per game. Their offense also averaged 410.6 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 408.2 yards per game. Dylan Hopkins led the team in passing yards with 2074, Jacory Croskey-Merritt led the team in rushing yards with 1190, and Caleb Medford led the team in receiving yards with 551.

 

 

 

Arizona finished last season with a 10-3 record overall and they had a 7-2 record in their conference games too.  They were 5-1 in their home games, 4-2 in their road games, and they were also 1-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be at home for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 34.6 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 21.1 points per game. Their offense also averaged 448 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 357.9 yards per game. Noah Fifita led the team in passing yards with 2869, Jonah Coleman led the team in rushing yards with 871, and Tetairoa McMillan led the team in receiving yards with 1402.

The current betting odds have New Mexico listed as a 30.5 point underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. New Mexico was terrible in their games last season with their 4-8 record overall, and they have already started this season with a home loss in Week 0. They lost to Montana State who is a team from the FCS, but they did cover the spread in that game as they were the double digit underdog. They put up a really good fight too, scoring 30+ points in the game and they were also leading it for a majority of the game but blew it right at the end. This will be their 1st road game of the season now but they are going to be looking to build on that 1st game after almost winning it. Arizona was a great team last season with their 10-3 record overall which had them as one of the best in the Pac-12, but now they are gone from the Pac-12 this season, moving to the Big 12, and their head coach has moved on to Washington too. Fisch was a big reason why this team was so good last season as he turned that program around in 3 years, but the man they have brought in to replace him wasn't exactly churning out successful teams at San Jose State. A lot of the roster from last season followed Fisch to Washington too so this is going to be a completely different team with a new head coach and they are going to need some time before they turn into the well-oiled machine that they were near the end of last season. This is a really big spread for a team with a new head coach and a lot of new faces, especially when their opponent already has a game under their belt. The best way to place a bet here is on New Mexico to cover the spread in this game. 

New Mexico Arizona Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, August 31, 2024 (10:30 pm ET start time) is Arizona 38 New Mexico 20.

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New Mexico Lobos: 9-3 to the over in their last 12 games. 9-3 to the first half over in their last 12 games. 6-3 to the first quarter over in their last 9 games. 

Arizona Wildcats: 10-2 ATS in their last 12 games. 7-0 (+8.95 units) on the moneyline in their last 7 games. 6-2 (+5.90 units) on the first quarter moneyline in their last 8 games. 

New Mexico Lobos:  J. Morgan (RB) - Undisclosed. E. Wysong (WR) - Undisclosed.

Arizona Wildcats:  T. McMillan (WR) - Undisclosed.

"I missed the relationships. And I missed being able to help console, mentor, guide, influence [players'] choices." - Bronco Mendenhall on his return to college football this season.

“When you go into the first game the starting lineup is whoever they are, but it’s still up to negotiation. You play well or you don’t, but if you don’t play well we’re going to play somebody else.” - Brent Brennan on his team’s starting lineup coming into this season opener.

WR Trujillo, Nic

WR Miller, Shawn 

WR Wysong, Luke 

TE Bruckler, Trace 

QB Dampier, Devon 

RB Sanders, Eli 

WR McMillan, Tetairoa

WR Murphy, Reymello 

WR Lemonious-Craig, Montana 

TE Olson, Sam 

QB Fifita, Noah 

RB Croskey-Merritt, Jacory 

Passing: D. Dampier (172)

Rushing: E. Sanders (87)

Receiving: L. Wysong (95)

Touchdowns: T. Bruckler (1)

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Coaches:

New Mexico Lobos: Bronco Mendenhall (1st season)

Arizona Wildcats: Brent Brennan (1st season)