San diego state aztecs vs new mexico lobos
A great matchup between two Mountain West Conference foes!
San Diego State Aztecs (SDSU) vs. New Mexico Lobos (UNM) is a rivalry game that dates back to 1958. Here's a brief overview of the teams and their recent performances:
San Diego State Aztecs
- Location: San Diego, California
- Conference: Mountain West Conference (MW)
- Stadium: SDCCU Stadium (Capacity: 70,561)
- Head Coach: Brady Hoke (4th season)
- Record: 7-4 overall, 4-3 MW (2022)
The Aztecs have been a consistent force in the Mountain West, with 12 bowl appearances since 2000. They have a strong defense, ranking 14th nationally in scoring defense (19.3 points per game) and 25th in total defense (342.3 yards per game).
New Mexico Lobos
- Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Conference: Mountain West Conference (MW)
- Stadium: University Stadium (Capacity: 39,224)
- Head Coach: Bob Davie (6th season)
- Record: 3-8 overall, 2-5 MW (2022)
The Lobos have struggled in recent years, with only two winning seasons since 2010. However, they have shown flashes of brilliance, particularly on offense, where they rank 34th nationally in passing yards per game (264.3).
Recent Head-to-Head Matchups
- 2021: San Diego State won 38-7
- 2020: New Mexico won 27-23 (neutral site game)
- 2019: San Diego State won 23-9
- 2018: San Diego State won 31-23
Key Players to Watch
- San Diego State:
- QB Lucas Johnson: A dual-threat quarterback with 1,444 passing yards and 7 touchdowns in 2022.
- RB Greg Bell: A powerful running back with 1,044 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022.
- LB Cameron Thomas: A defensive leader with 94 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2022.
- New Mexico:
- QB Terry Wilson: A transfer quarterback from Kentucky with 1,434 passing yards and 7 touchdowns in 2022.
- WR Andrew Erickson: A talented wide receiver with 54 receptions and 744 receiving yards in 2022.
- LB Javonne Shepherd: A defensive stalwart with 93 tackles and 2 interceptions in 2022.
Game Prediction
San Diego State's strong defense and balanced offense should give them an edge in this matchup. The Aztecs have a significant advantage in terms of experience and talent, which should allow them to control the tempo of the game. New Mexico will need to rely on their passing game to keep up with the Aztecs, but their defense has struggled to contain opposing offenses.
Prediction: San Diego State Aztecs win 31-17.