Staff Picks – Utah State vs. New Mexico

Daniel Hansen – @thegranddanny

We all got caught up in the narrative last week. Whether it was Wyoming’s defense or the altitude at War Memorial Stadium, the Aggie offense fell below their torrid pace of the previous five weeks. That happens. Even Alabama loses on rare occasion. But the offense should find its footing once again this week. New Mexico ranks 98th in the country allowing 32 points per game, and is tied for 101st with 14 turnovers lost. Neither stat bodes well against an Utah State team still averaging over 47 points per game and ranks in the top 15 in the nation for turnovers forced. Especially with the team wanting to improve upon their performance in Laramie, the Aggies should return to their high-flying ways.

Utah State 59, New Mexico 21

Jaden Johnson – @jadenjohnson00

I know that this has been a week of overreactions to Saturday’s game against Wyoming, and while some of the criticism is fair, the Aggies figured out how to do two things they haven’t done much of the past few seasons: win a close game, and win on the road. That alone is encouraging to me. While the lack of passing against the Cowboys may have been alarming, they were facing a fantastic defense which really did their homework. I don’t expect that to be the case again this week. New Mexico has a very poor passing defense which ranks 113th in the nation allowing 272.6 yards per game, while the defense as a whole has allowed 32 ppg (98), and 441.7 ypg (108). I do expect them to put some points on the board, but I think we’re going to see the Aggie offense return to its beautiful form.

Utah State 51, New Mexico 27

Dalton Renshaw – @dren_sports

I think last week surprised a lot of people, myself included. Wyoming set out with a gameplan to control the clock and run the ball as much as they could, and it kept them in the game for quite some time. It definitely wasn’t Utah State’s best performance, but there’s something about playing in Laramie that’s always tricky. This week however, is at home, and USU plays significantly better at home with the crowd in their favor. I expect the offense to come back to life under Jordan Love who plays much better at home, passing for 299 a game as compared to 179 on the road, with 10 touchdowns compared to 4. But, watch out for New Mexico on the ground. They rank 21st in the nation with 42.8 rushing attempts per game, which tires defenses out and opens up their passing game for shots down the field. All things considered, I still like Utah State in this one.

Utah State 48  New Mexico 20

Jason Walker – @thejwalk67

Wyoming was able to challenge Utah State thanks to a physical defense and a surprise QB/RB one-two punch run attack in the second half. New Mexico sort of has one of those two. Redshirt junior Sheriron Jones has been a capable ground threat, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt and the Lobos will be keen to try and replicate the success of Wyoming’s run attack that managed two 100-yard rushers (QB Sean Chambers 19/100, Nico Evans, 25/130).

Unfortunately for UNM, one of the keys to the Cowboys’ success was the element of surprise. The Lobos don’t have that. Keith Patterson has had all week to look over the film and work out the kinks in the defense. Plus, New Mexico doesn’t have the same capabilities on defense.

Jordan Love is going to get a chance to redeem himself for an awful performance last week and I think he’s going to take full advantage.

Utah State 52, New Mexico 20

Thomas Sorenson – @tomcat340

The offense will return to it’s normal form this week and receive most of the attention in the post game, but the defense is the unit that will really shine this week. There’s a lot of confidence in this roundtable for a team that looked like it was dying of dysentery on the Wyoming plains, but like I wrote this week, there was a lot of good to be seen in Saturday’s game. The Aggies know what they’re playing for, and they know their goals are achievable. I don’t foresee them allowing some Spanish wolves to get in the way of that. Expect a close game in the first quarter to turn into a blowout by halftime, with the Lobos tacking on a late score against the bench unit to break the 20-point mark. I also think we’re getting a defensive touchdown in that second-quarter onslaught, and Darwin the Tank Engine will keep chugging along with another end zone celebration and a 100-yard game.

Utah State 45, New Mexico 23

Wes Mangum – @Dream_Breather

The Aggies will beat New Mexico on Saturday and break into the top 25 on Sunday. Expect USU’s offensive line to play a lot cleaner, and likewise, Jordan Love to look like his usual self. Darwin Thompson rolls in this one, bullying an inferior New Mexico defense to a pair of TDs and 120 yards on the ground. David Woodward and Tipa Galiea will provide some big plays on defense as New Mexico will be relying on their pass game to try and overcome the early defecit they’ll fall into. This one will be more in-tune with what we’ve grown used to seeing in the 2018 season so far. Aggies in a rout.

Utah State 52, New Mexico 21