Broncos vs Lobos NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping
The Boise State Broncos squeaked out a 7-6 win last Thursday night over BYU. Boise State clearly isn’t the same powerhouse team they were the last couple years, but they are still a formidable team.
Boise State Broncos vs. New Mexico Lobos
University Stadium, Albuquerque New Mexico
Saturday September 29, 6:00 PM EST
College Football Betting Odds from Bovada
Moneyline: Off
College Football Spread: Boise State -25.5 (-110) vs. New Mexico +25.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 52
Bob Davie is in the initial stages of trying to turn around this New Mexico football program that has been in the dumps for several years.
Boise State
Boise State didn’t score a single point on offense last week against BYU, but they won the game thanks to a defensive interception returned for a touchdown. It is clear that this offense badly misses having Kellen Moore under center. Joe Southwick has only two touchdown passes through the team’s first three games.
Southwick is completing 62.1% of his passes, but he isn’t getting the ball downfield very often.
GRAB OUR BEST Expert CFB Picks for 2012 NCAA FOOTBALL Betting! —–>
D.J. Harper is the Broncos most dangerous player on offense. Harper leads the team with 282 rushing yards.
It’s hard to fathom because of how they have been in the past, but Boise State’s offense ranks 109th in the nation in points per game at 19.7 per contest.
While the offense has been very poor, the Broncos defense has been good again this year. The Broncos have two interception returns for touchdowns already this year.
The secondary has completely shut down opposing quarterbacks.
Michigan State did chew up the front seven on the ground, but the Broncos won’t play many teams that can run the ball like Michigan State. Overall, the team ranks 19th in the nation in total defense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
New Mexico
Bob Davie hasn’t been on the sidelines in quite a while, and he has a very tough task on his hands at New Mexico.
This program has been absolutely dreadful in the last few years. Mike Locksley went 2-26 as New Mexico’s head coach before the team got rid of him to hire Davie. Davie has implemented a new system at New Mexico.
The team is now a run-first offense that tries to control the ball and use up the clock. New Mexico did a great job of this last week in an upset win at New Mexico State.
The Lobos ran for 302 yards on 54 carries in that game. B.R. Holbrook has only 224 yards passing through four games, so you can see that the Lobos really rely on the running game.
The Lobos defense was shredded up by Texas and Texas Tech earlier this year. New Mexico has allowed 290 yards per game through the air this season.
The front seven is much improved against the run compared to last season. Team depth is an issue on this side of the ball, and the Lobos really don’t have anyone who gets after the passer.
Boise State isn’t the same team they were in the last few years, and New Mexico likes to bleed the clock. Look for a low scoring game as both offenses go on long time-consuming drives.
Free College Football Pick: Under 52
