New Mexico-Nevada

the New Mexico Bowl Saturday, December 22nd, 4:30pm Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico (8-4)_____Mtn West____154.27				Nevada (6-6)_____WAC____54.01
Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score	Week	Opponent	oPts	Res, Score
9	Air Force	233.04	W, 34-31	14	Louisiana Tech	-48.56	W, 49-10
3	@ Arizona	69.56	W, 29-27	10	@ New Mexico State	-156.16	W, 40-38
7	@ Wyoming	-10.46	W, 20-3	5	Nevada-Las Vegas	-178.30	W, 27-20
8	@ San Diego State	-84.17	W, 20-17	8	@ Utah State	-209.20	W, 31-28
11	Colorado State	-109.69	W, 26-23	9	Idaho	-335.67	W, 37-21
2	New Mexico State	-156.16	W, 44-34	3	Nicholls State	-	W, 52-17
13	Nevada-Las Vegas	-178.30	W, 27-6	12	Hawaii	395.58	L, 26-28
4	Sacramento State	-	W, 58-0	7	@ Boise State	229.42	L, 67-69
5	Brigham Young	341.36	L, 24-31	6	Fresno State	151.92	L, 41-49
12	@ Utah	213.09	L, 10-28	2	@ Northwestern	30.45	L, 31-36
10	@ Texas Christian	152.78	L, 0-37	1	@ Nebraska	29.14	L, 10-52
1	@ Texas-El Paso	-110.58	L, 6-10	13	@ San Jose State	-53.89	L, 24-27

New Mexico has the edge in how much they've been tested, winning a good game vs Air Force, while Nevada hasn't beaten anyone of note.

Not too much difference in these teams' seasons - both started with a loss but have pulled themselves back up.

Intangibles: The game is basically a home one for New Mexico, which is good because the Lobos only lost one (to BYU) this season at home.

The Line: Nevada +3

The Story: New Mexico's leading rusher Rodney Ferguson and backup rusher Mike Love are both out for the game, and though coach Rocky Long says that plugging in Paul Baker will work just fine, I don't think it's going to be that simple. It might be just enough though.

The Call: New Mexico by 6

The Result: New Mexico 23-0 = Maybe it was that simple - Paul Baker racked up 167 yards rushing. Who knew? (Besides Coach Long, that is.)