New Mexico

Arizona football vs. New Mexico score predictions

Published

3 months ago

August 29, 2024

Arizona football vs. New Mexico score predictions

The long offseason is almost over, and Arizona finally has a football game to play.

The Wildcats open the 2024 season on Saturday night against New Mexico, playing for the first time since the 2015 Albuquerque Bowl and the first time in Tucson since 2007.

According to VegasInsider.com, the Wildcats are a massive favorite, with the point spread between 30-31.5 points depending on the site. Here’s what our staff thinks.

Kim Doss — Arizona wins 45-13

Projecting the Wildcats’ first game of the season isn’t quite as difficult this season simply because the opponent has already played. While Montana State is a good FCS team and went into the game as a double-digit favorite, it’s still not encouraging for New Mexico to lose its season opener on its home field the way it did.

The Lobos were unable to hold their early double-digit lead against the Bobcats. It would be a shock for them to ever have such a lead at Arizona.

The Wildcats have superior talent all over the field. They are capable of scoring more than 45 points against the Lobos, but if they get sufficiently out in front, it would not be a surprise to see some of the younger players get some time. They should at least cover the 30+ spread.

Brandon Combs — Arizona wins 52-10

Arizona is coming off one of their best seasons in program history. They are returning plenty of talent and is starting the season off right at home. One of the questions is how this team will react in live action with a new coaching staff. Luckily for the ‘Cats, the first two games are perfect for ironing out the kinks and solidifying everything together. And the first game up is against the Lobos. I don’t foresee any major issues and do expect to see plenty of player rotation throughout the game.

Ezra Amacher — Arizona wins 42-10

This is a game that Arizona should win handily as long as it doesn’t commit many turnovers and executes well enough on defense. We already know the offense will be gearing up for an opponent that just gave up 21 fourth quarter points to Montana State. I’m most curious to see which running backs are utilized in which situations. Arizona has an explosive backfield but sorting out the depth chart is no easy task. I expect Arizona to just barely cover.

Adam Green — Arizona wins 45-13

This is the most anticipated season opener since, well, maybe 2018? That was Kevin Sumlin’s first game as coach and with a returning Khalil Tate, and suffice to say that game, season and coaching tenure didn’t go well. At least when it comes to this game, things should be different. Much different. Arizona has more than enough talent to beat New Mexico and plenty of motivation to come out and show that they are ready to build off of last season’s success. The Wildcats have some things to figure out, sure, and this game should give the team a chance to get plenty of guys live game action.

Juan Serrano — Arizona wins 45 – 17

Most teams have their most improvement from week 1 to week 2. Fortunately for New Mexico, they already have one game under their belt. This is not going to be the same Lobo team we saw last week against Montana State. They will be ready to play and show that they are not a push over team. However, it is the season opener for Arizona, the Wildcats will be ready to go just as much as the Lobos are. A packed Arizona stadium will help an already energized team. Arizona should be able to establish a run game, especially with Jacory Croskey-Merritt playing against his former team. At the end of the day, the Noah Fifita to Tetairoa McMillan connection will be there and should propel Arizona to a season opening win.

Devin Homer — Arizona wins 38-17

Arizona has the fire power to put up 40-plus points on New Mexico but as this is the season opener, there will be some kinks to work out and more guys will get opportunities on both sides of the ball. UA on paper should have no problem setting the tone for the season with a home-opener and keep an eye on Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who is playing against his former team.

Brian J. Pedersen — Arizona wins 38-17

On paper, and based on how New Mexico looked last week, Arizona should easily win this game and there’s plenty of blowout potential. But this isn’t a normal season opener, not with an almost entirely new coaching staff that inherited both a talented roster but also very high expectations. This game and next week against NAU are about settling into a rhythm, as the bigger contests begin after that. Also look for a lot of guys getting opportunities if/when the outcome is no longer in doubt as the Wildcats continue to tinker with their rotations.

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New Mexico

Devon Dampier leads New Mexico past No. 19 Washington State, 38-35

Published

6 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Press Room

Devon Dampier leads New Mexico past No. 19 Washington State, 38-35

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Devon Dampier scored on a 1-yard run with 21 seconds left and New Mexico beat No. 19 Washington State 38-35 on Saturday night for its first victory over a ranked team since 2003, dashing the Cougars’ slim College Football Playoffs hopes.

Dampier ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries and completed 11 of 25 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. Eli Sanders added 108 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries for the Lobos (5-6).

“We don’t win without him,” Lobos coach Bronco Mendenhall said about Dampier. “And when your quarterback could run the ball like that, that tough and that physical, with the deception also of having Eli Sanders and NaQuari (Rogers) running the ball, as well. Gosh, well, that’s what winning and really good football teams do, right? They run when they need to, and you stop the run when you have to.”

Dampier ran for 142 yards and both touchdowns in the second half. He moved New Mexico 75 yards on the winning drive after Washington State (8-2) took a 35-31 lead with 3:12 left on John Mateer’s 37-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Williams.

Mateer was 25 of 36 for 375 yards and four touchdowns. Williams had nine receptions for 181 yards and three touchdowns.

“We’ll be defined by what we do next,” Cougars coach Jake Dickert said. “Me, as the head coach, our seniors, our leaders, all of our guys, you have two options, and then you can go out there and fight each other, or you can fight what happened to you and come back ready to work.”

New Mexico took a 31-28 lead with 4:40 left in the game on Luke Drzewiecki’s 21-yard field goal.

Trailing 28-14 at the half, the Lobos tied it in the third quarter on Dampier’s 33-yard touchdown run and Sander’s 26-yard scoring dash.

Takeaways

Washington State: After Washington State moved up and down the field in the first half, scoring four touchdowns and accumulating 357 yards in total offense and punting just once, but the Lobos forced the Cougars to punt on the first three possessions of the second half. Mateer was 3 of 9 for 16 yards in the third quarter

“I thought they were more aggressive defensively in the second half,” Dickert said. “You know, I thought they stayed with a couple different personnel deals. They do a good job schematically on offense.”

New Mexico: The Lobos remained in position to become bowl eligibility in Mendenhal’s first season.

Poll implications

The Cougars will drop after the loss.

Up next

Washington State: At Oregon State next Saturday.

New Mexico: At Hawaii on Nov. 30

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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New Mexico

Highway 150 Piles Continue Burning (Nov. 16)

Published

13 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Press Room

Highway 150 Piles Continue Burning (Nov. 16)

November 16, 2024 by carsonnationalforest

Carson National Forest

Highway 150 Piles Continue Burning

Taos, N.M., November 16, 2024—Fire crews began ignitions on the Highway 150 Piles Prescribed Fire today. Here’s the latest:

Fire crews completed 40 additional acres in the Highway 150 Piles project area, mostly on the southside of New Mexico Highway 150 and along the Bull of the Woods trail.
Crewswill take advantage of ongoing favorable conditions tomorrow, November 17, to continue treating remaining piles on the along Highway 150 and in Taos Ski Valley.
Trails along Highway 150 remain open, but hikers should exercise caution and expect some smoke.
Once again, it took a team to make today happen. Fire managers would like to thank staff from across the Forest, including Taos Ski Valley Fire Department, Red River Fire Chasers, the Carson Hotshots and West Zone fire resources for their efforts in today’s success.

Project Background

Today’s work is part of the Highway 150 Corridor Wildland Urban Interface Project. Local organizations in 2014 came together to form the Taos Valley Watershed Coalition, which named the highway corridor as one of its priorities for protecting the forest and watershed that communities depend on.

The piles were made from thinning along length of Highway 150 within Carson National Forest, between Valdez to above the Village of Taos Ski Valley along the Wheeler Peak Trail. More information about the project is available at fs.usda.gov/goto/Hwy150Project.

Today’s burn occurred in the Enchanted Circle Wildfire Crisis Landscape, an area recognized by Congress as a national priority given its ecological and cultural importance.

Smoke

Fire managers work with the New Mexico Environment Department to conduct ignitions on days when smoke impacts will be limited. Nonetheless, smoke will be present and will impact nearby areas, especially in the afternoons and evenings.

Smoke readiness tips are available at fs.usda.gov/goto/CarsonRxSmoke.

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New Mexico

Deadspin | No. 22 St. John's meets New Mexico in battle of the Pitinos

Published

21 hours ago

November 16, 2024

Press Room

Deadspin | No. 22 St. John's meets New Mexico in battle of the Pitinos

Nov 9, 2024; Queens, New York, USA; St. John’s Red Storm head coach Rick Pitino watches from courtside in the first half against the Quinnipiac Bobcats at Carnesecca Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

St. John’s is about to see the degree of difficulty in its schedule increase, and the opener of that challenging stretch will be a family affair.

Unbeaten through three games and coming off its first win as a ranked team in nearly a decade, No. 22 St. John’s will host New Mexico on Sunday afternoon in New York in the fourth coaching matchup between Rick Pitino and his son Richard Pitino.

Rick Pitino is 2-1 against his son.

The Red Storm (3-0) are starting a week when they not only face New Mexico, but 12th-ranked Baylor on Thursday in the Baha Mar Hoops tournament in the Bahamas/ St. John’s might face 11th-ranked Tennessee or Virginia in that event.

St. John’s is coming off three wins in its on-campus arena in Queens over Fordham, Quinnipiac and Wagner by a combined 76 points.

“New Mexico is probably the No. 1 offensive-pace team in the country, and I know it better than anybody,” Rick Pitino said after the Red Storm earned their first win as a ranked team since Dec. 28, 2014.

“So we’ve got to get ready for this pace. They’ve got a great guard, they’ve got great support players, they’ve got a terrific inside player. This is a tough, tough test.”

The first three games featured moments when the Red Storm struggled, especially during Wednesday’s 66-45 win over Wagner. St. John’s scored 18 straight points to pull away in the final 10 minutes.

The Red Storm shot 50 percent from the field (21 of 42) but took 13 fewer shots than Wagner and missed 12 of 30 free throws.

RJ Luis Jr. scored 13 points as St. John’s top scorer, but Aaron Scott made three key shots during the decisive run and added 11. Scott made his key contributions after sitting out against Quinnipiac on Nov. 9 with an illness and tweaking his ankle in practice ahead of the Wagner game.

“We did our job against these three teams,” Rick Pitino said. “Now it’s really going to get tough.”

Pitino changed the starting lineup by having Kadary Richmond come off the bench along with Zuby Ejiofor, but both could return to starting on Sunday.

New Mexico (3-0) received 15 points in this week’s Top 25 poll and is seeking its second win over a ranked opponent this season. The Lobos knocked UCLA out of this week’s poll by beating the then-No. 22 Bruins 72-64 on Nov. 8.

New Mexico is attempting to start 4-0 for the second time in three seasons after earning a 100-81 home win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Tuesday, when the Lobos forced 22 turnovers following forcing 21 against UCLA.

Donovan Dent, who is averaging a team-high 19 points a game for the Lobos, totaled 25 points and 10 assists and continued his improvement from his sophomore season. Dent averaged 14.1 points on 52 percent shooting from the field but last season but is shooting 58.8 percent in 2024-25.

“It was a good win for our guys,” Richard Pitino said. “I thought they were ready to go. When you have a big win like UCLA, everyone is telling them how great they are. Then you have another big game against St. John’s coming up. I thought the mental approach was terrific to handle their business against (Corpus Christi).”

Besides Dent’s big showing on Tuesday, Kayde Dotson added 18 points and Tru Washington 15.

–Field Level Media

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