New Mexico (0-0) vs Montana State (0-0)
Game Info: Saturday, August 24, 2024 at 4:00 pm (University Stadium)
Betting Odds: New Mexico +13.5 / Montana State -13.5 -- Over/Under: 54.5
The New Mexico & Montana State
Game Preview
Yes Folks, It is officially Week 1 of the college football season! The Outlet Sports Ventures should be your go to spot for all your FREE Predictions in any sport! Today we have action in the Montana State Bobcats and the New Mexico Lobos at University Stadium on this Week Zero NCAA Saturday. In this article I will not only give you a prediction but we will preview Montana State and New Mexico individually to find the best pick for the game.
The Montana State Bobcats
Team Betting Preview
The Montana State Bobcats won 8 games last year, reaching the playoffs' second round. In their fourth year under coach Brent Vigen, the team is experiencing major changes with new offensive and defensive coordinators. Key players returning are quarterback Tommy Mellott (1,000+ passing yards, 10 TDs), top rusher Julius Davis (718 yards, 6 TDs), and leading receiver Ty McCullouch (473 yards, 5 TDs).
So, Rylan Ortt is back after making 74 tackles, Brody Grebe is back after topping Montana State with 9.5 sacks, and Blake Stillwell snagged 2 interceptions. With plenty of returning players, Montana State should be a solid team. But, with new coordinators in the mix, they might face some challenges at the start. Keep in mind, Montana State has won a total of 20 games in the past two years, so they're not your average easy FCS opponent. Can they Have a good year or will they quickly fall apart?
Why the Facts Say Montana State Bobcats will win
New Mexico has lost 16 of its last 20 games against non-AP-ranked teams.
New Mexico has failed to cover the spread in nine of its last 12 games as a home underdog.
The New Mexico Lobos
Team Betting Preview
The New Mexico Lobos won 4 games last year, which was their highest total since 2016, and they begin the Bronco Mendenhall era. Mendenhall hasn’t coached since leaving Virginia in 2021. New Mexico has questions on offense with all five of its offensive line starters gone. However, the Lobos have their quarterback in playmaker Devon Dampier, and running back Andrew Henry averaged 6.7 yards per touch in a backup role. Caleb Medford returns as the top returning receiver, and getting Luke Wysong back from injury should be huge.
Defensively, Christian Ellis returns after 58 tackles, Kyler Drake led the Lobos with 3.5 sacks and Gabriel Lopez had 4 tackles for loss. New Mexico has intriguing players on both sides of the ball, but the defensive effort has to drastically improve. Also, New Mexico has a coach who has been out of work for a few years and new coordinators. It’s fair to have questions about New Mexico, at least early on.
The Montana State vs New Mexico
Game Prediction
The Pick : Montana State -13.5
Although I was eager to bet on New Mexico due to the unusual situation of an FBS team being significant underdogs against an FCS team, I understand that Montana State is a top FCS team, while New Mexico is among the weakest FBS teams. New Mexico has a new offensive line, a struggling defense from last year, and a fresh coaching staff, indicating a steep learning curve. On the other hand, the Montana State Bobcats are well-prepared to start strong and contend for an FCS championship. It may seem odd to see a two-touchdown spread, but I have confidence in Montana State and will bet on them to cover the points.
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