New Mexico vs. Hawaii: Why The Lobos Can Win, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction
Can New Mexico get the win over the Warriors?
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Lobos have a great opportunity
WEEK: New Mexico Lobos 2-5 vs Hawaii Rainbows 2-5
WHEN: Saturday, October 21, 2023
WHERE: University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
WEATHER: 82°F Humidity: 20 %
RADIO: Lobo Radio Network 770 AM/96.3 FM Robert Portnoy & Dontrell Moore
SERIES RECORD: 22nd meeting Spartans lead 14-5-1
Odds/Point Spread: Lobos (-2)
The Hawaii Warriors (2-5) travel 3,221 miles to University Stadium on Saturday, October 21, 2023, to go up against the New Mexico Lobos (2-4). New Mexico is 2-point favorites. The over/under comes in at 59.5.
In a matchup between two struggling Mountain West teams, the Hawaii Warriors (2-5) will travel 3,221 miles to face the New Mexico Lobos (2-4) at University Stadium on Saturday, October 21, 2023. New Mexico enters the game as a 2-point favorite with an over/under set at 59.5.
The Warriors and the Lobos find themselves with identical 2-5 records, making this a pivotal battle in the Mountain West Conference.
Offensively, the Hawaii Warriors have been averaging 23.9 points per game. The New Mexico Lobos have a slight edge at 27.8 points per game.
Defensively, the Warriors have been struggling, giving up 35.6 points per game. At the same time, the Lobos have fared slightly better, conceding 27.8 points per game.
Last week, the Warriors faced the San Diego State Aztecs, suffering a 41-34 loss at home. Both teams are in dire need of a win in Mountain West Conference play.
Warrior Quarterback Brayden Schager had an outstanding performance, passing for 427 yards and three touchdowns, marking Hawaii’s first 400-yard passing performance since 2021.
Schager went 29/47 last week with 427 yards passing and three touchdowns for a career-high 427 yards, posting the Warrior’s first 400-yard passing performance since Chevan Cordeiro threw 406 against CSU on November 20, 2021.
Schager has thrown for 2,071 yards this season with a 63.4% completion rate, 16 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Dressed to the Nines … brought to you by the Nines!
Classic: 🩶❤️❤️
Attn: @UniWatch @UNISWAG #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/jh7EuLkQQa
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) October 19, 2023
The Warriors are averaging 23.9 points per game. They’re averaging 57.7 yards on the ground as a unit, ranking them 133rd in D-1. The Warriors have earned 2,503 total yards for the year.
In regards to the distribution of scoring touchdowns, Hawaii has compiled 17 touchdowns via the pass and three rushing touchdowns.
Hawaii has recorded 133 1st downs as a team, and they have committed 46 penalties for 401 yards. They have given the ball to the opposition 13 times.
When talking about yards via the pass, the Warriors are allowing 1,472 yards, which puts them in 71st in the country, so look for Lobo Offensive Coordinator Vincent Byant’s Offense to game plan against the Warriors secondary.
They gave up 210.3 yards per game through the air and allowed a completion percentage of 62.0%. Overall, they allow 380.6 yards per contest, which puts them 74th in D-1.
They have given up 14 touchdowns through the air and 13 touchdowns via the ground game.
The opposition runs for 4.8 yards per run and 170.3 rushing yards per contest this season.
They have given up 1,192 rushing yards during the season through 7 games. The Warriors are sitting in 124th in the country concerning team defense, giving up 35.6 points per game.
The Hawaii Warriors’ ground game averages 3.8 yards per attempt, with Jordan Johnson leading in rushing yards.
Steven McBride has been a standout on the receiving end with 616 yards and five touchdowns; McBride is one of the more dynamic receivers in FBS and will be a challenge for this Lobo secondary!
The New Mexico Lobos are coming off a 52-24 defeat against the San Jose State Spartans; this was quickly one of the sloppiest games for Danny Gonzales’s team in the second half this year, despite leading at the half 17-14
Dylan Hopkins leads the Lobos offensive team with 1,176 passing yards (196.0 yards per game) and has a 55.9% completion percentage this year (85-of-152) while throwing seven touchdowns with four interceptions.
Hopkins also has 94 rushing yards on 33 carries with one touchdown, averaging 15.7 yards per game.
Jacory Merritt leads the Lobo team-best 488 rushing yards (81.3 per game) and nine touchdowns, followed by Sherod White, 141 yards on 30 carries and a single rushing touchdown.
Wide Receiver Caleb Medford has 11 receptions for a team-high 228 receiving yards (45.6 per game) and one touchdown.
Deuce Jones has added 166 yards (on seven catches) and one touchdown, and Jeremiah Hixon has a total of 158 yards on 19 receptions and two touchdowns.
Keys to Victory for the Lobos:
