– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:50 am
2017 Football Preview – Mountain West – Lobos
Looking for 2017 New Mexico Lobos predictions? The Lobos had a great season last year. Finishing tied for first in the Mountain West and going 9-4 on the year. The Lobos didn’t finish there. They went on to beat UTSA in the New Mexico Bowl. With ten starters to replace, the New Mexico could be in for a big change this season .
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- 2017-18 College Football Preview – New Mexico Lobos
- Head Coach: Bob Davie
- 2016 Record: 9-4
- New Mexico Lobos Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +2800
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Winning the New Mexico Bowl last season, can the Lobos get back to another Bowl in 2017?
2017 New Mexico Lobos Predictions: Team Strengths
Experienced Offense: New Mexico brings back senior leader and quarterback Lamar Jordan. Jordan who has starred in coach Davie’s triple option offense, rushed for 739 yards, averaging 6.5 years per carry in the offense last year.
Jordan also passed a little as well. Completing 53 percent of his passes for 681 yards, six touchdowns and four picks.
New Mexico returns five of their six explosive running backs to the rush heavy offense in 2017. The Lobos led the Nation in rushing last season.
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Tyrone Owens (1,097 rush yards) will return as the featured back this year. The Lobos will miss Teriyon Gibson who led the team in rushing last year (1,269 rush yards), but have plenty of talent to fill the void.
Coltin Gerhart a redshirt junior transfer from Arizona State and Romell Jordan who is returning from a knee injury should pick up the slack.
The two should give the offense more options to be successful in the rushing attack.
Don’t forget about the third best offensive player on the offense, Richard McQuarley. McQuarley is back and looks to add more touchdowns to his resume. He had 18 last year.
Solid Offensive Line: There was a reason the Lobos led the nation in rushing. It starts up from with the big guys, led by guard, Aaron Jenkins.
Jenkins came into camp ranked as the fourth best player on the Lobos offense. Jenkins will have to be the leader on the offensive line.
The line will return Jenkins and four others who aren’t proven from last season.
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With as talented as the backs are for the Lobos, the offensive line can be the unsung hero. Giving New Mexico another season as the nations leading rushing attack.
2017 New Mexico Lobos Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Where is the passing defense?: New Mexico’s defense struggled some last season. If it weren’t for struggles defending the pass, the Lobos could have seen a 10 win season.
Defensive leader and defensive coordinator, Kevin Cosgrove returns to a defense that allowed 394 yards per game last year.
In order for the Lobos to get better on the defensive side of the ball, they need the team to be on the same page. That includes Kimmie Carson who is ranked as the teams second best defensive player coming into camp.
Unfortunately for the Lobos, Carson was held out of spring camp for academic issues.
Garrett Hughes is the lone headliner for the Lobos defense. The linebacker had 28 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss in 2016. Hughes will look to redshirt freshman Teton Saltes to anchor the defensive line.
The Lobos secondary allowed 8.4 yards per pass play last season, and was a lot of the reason why New Mexico gave up almost 400 yards per game.
Looking for improvement against the pass, the Lobos bring back standout corner Jadon Boatright and saftey Bijon Parker. Boatright had a pick six last season and 27 tackles in 2016.
There are still a ton of questions to be answered on the defensive side of the ball, and on speacial teams. A unit which ranked 97th in the nation last year.
If the Lobos can get improvement in those areas, look for the Lobos to make noise again in the Mountain West.
New Mexico Lobos Prediction: 6-6
This year teams will be looking to key in more on the Lobos triple option attack. The question is, can opposing defenses stop the nations leading rush offense?
The Lobos were 9-4 last season, but had a ton of veteran leadership that helped the team succeed. This season quarterback Lamar Jordan will have to be the team leader.
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With a lot of questions yet to be answered on defense, New Mexico will lean heavily on the offense to get wins. In 2017 expect that to be more times than none.
With expectaions high from 2016, the Lobos to be good but not that good. A heavy run game with minimal passing on offense, will lead to New Mexico finishing the season 6-6.
2017 New Mexico Lobos Football Schedule
- 9/2/17 TBD Abilene Christian
- 9/9/17 TBD New Mexico State
- 9/16/17 TBD @Boise State
- 9/23/17 TBD @Tulsa
- 9/30/17 TBD Air Force
- 10/7/17 OPEN DATE
- 10/14/17 @Fresno State
- 10/21/17 TBD Colorado State
- 10/28/17 TBD @Wyoming
- 11/4/17 TBD Utah State
- 11/11/17 TBD @Texas A&M
- 11/18/17 TBD UNLV
- 11/25/17 TBD @San Diego State
What do you think about our 2017 New Mexico Lobos predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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