A couple of schools that like to run the football, Coach Bob Davie and the New Mexico Lobos (+20) will be taking on their MWC rival Wyoming Cowboys (-20) at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for this matchup is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET and fans can view the action live on ATSN.
Betting Preview: New Mexico Lobos vs. Wyoming Cowboys
In this Saturday Mountain West game, Wyoming has been projected as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 20 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently need to wager $1,700 to win $100 back on the Cowboys (-1700). The Lobos are getting +875 moneyline odds. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 51 points. On the surface it appears that there should be multiple good in-game betting possibilities in this contest.
The game’s total has swung much lower after initially being set at 54. The opening spread has yet to change.
The Lobos are 2-4 against the spread (ATS) and are down 1.0 unit so far. The team’s posted an O/U record of 3-3.
The surprising Cowboys are up 6.0 units this season. They’re 4-2 ATS and also have an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Lobos have gone just 2-4 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against MWC opponents. The Cowboys are 4-2 SU overall and 1-1 SU in conference play.
The Lobos will attempt to get back on track after a 35-21 defeat to Colorado State last week where Sheriron Jones completed just eight passes on 17 attempts for 89 yards and one interception. Bryson Carroll (193 rushing yards on 26 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Jones (54 yards on 17 carries) spearheaded the ground attack in the loss. Marcus Williams (five receptions, 58 yards) and Emmanuel Logan-Greene (one catch, eight yards) shared the receiving duties.
Wyoming just lost a 26-22 game to San Diego State. The team’s defensive unit allowed the Aztecs to run for 120 yards on 36 rush attempts, along with one rushing TD. Juwan Washington had a solid showing in the win, recording 84 rushing yards and a score on 23 attempts for San Diego State. For Wyoming, Sean Chambers completed five-of-14 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Xazavian Valladay (73 rushing yards on 16 attempts) and the signal-caller Chambers (49 yards on 13 carries, two TDs) led the ground game in the defeat as Raghib Ismail Jr. (two receptions, 34 yards, one TD) and Austin Conway (one catch, six yards) led the pass-catching attack.
New Mexico’s run the ball on 61.2 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 67.7 percent across possessions in conference play. Wyoming has an overall rush percentage of 71.3 percent, and has kept it on the ground 77 percent of the time when playing MWC opponents. The Lobos have run for 219.5 yards/game (including 247 per game against Mountain West opponents) and have 13 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Cowboys are averaging 233 rushing yards per game (265.5 in conference) and have 16 total rush TDs.
If 2019 results are any indication, then the Cowboys ought to hold an edge in terms of RB effectiveness. Their running backs has produced 5.4 yards per carry while their defense is allowing 2.5 YPC to opponents. The Lobos have rushed for 5.0 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 3.7 to opponents.
The Lobos offense has logged 205.8 yards/contest in the air overall (125 per game against conference opposition) and has six passing TDs so far. The Cowboys have put up 115.3 pass yards per contest (117 in the MWC) and have four total pass scores.
New Mexico has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 128.2 yards and pass for 391.7 yards per game. The Wyoming defense has given up 308.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 89.5 yards per game on the ground. The Cowboys are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.63 to opposing QBs, while the Lobos have given up a staggering 10.09 ANY/A.
Offensively, Jones is up to 230 passing yards this year, and has completed 42 percent of his 43 attempts with zero scores through the air and four interceptions. He has a 0.71 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 1.66 over the last two outings.
Sean Chambers has connected on 32-of-85 passes for 547 yards, two TDs and two INTs for Wyoming. His ANY/A sits at 5.39 for the season and 8.75 across his past two games.
These two teams met last year with the final result being a 31-3 victory for Wyoming.
New Mexico Lobos at Wyoming Cowboys Betting Pick
SU Winner: Wyoming, ATS Winner: Wyoming, O/U: Under
Betting Trends
- The O/U for New Mexico’s last game was set at 65. The under cashed in the team’s 35-21 defeat to Colorado State.
- New Mexico has produced 5.4 yards per carry over its past three outings and 5.5 over its last two.
- Wyoming has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 6.1 over its last two.
- The Wyoming offense has lost two fumbles this season while New Mexico has lost five.
- In its last three matchups, New Mexico is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- New Mexico has lost five of its last six games SU, with a three-point win over New Mexico State on September 21st accounting for the only victory over that span.
- The O/U for Wyoming’s last game was set at 37.5. The over cashed in the 26-22 loss to San Diego State.
- Over its last three matchups, Wyoming is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Lobos offense has created seven pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Cowboys have accounted for four such plays.
- The New Mexico defense has allowed 14 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Wyoming has given up four such plays.
- The New Mexico offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Wyoming has created 14 such runs.
- The Lobos defense has allowed eight rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Cowboys have given up two such runs.
- The Wyoming D has registered 20 sacks on the year while New Mexico has just 13.
