UNLV (6-1) v. New Mexico (5-3)
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Date/Time: Saturday, November 1st, 12:00 PM PST
Broadcast: Mountain West Network
Lines: UNLV -3.5 | O/U 61.5
After suffering its first
loss of the season against Boise State, UNLV is looking to bounce back at Allegiant Stadium. The Rebels will be taking on a tough New Mexico squad that is fighting for its first bowl berth since 2016.
UNLV
The offense for UNLV has been the key to success for Dan Mullen’s squad. The offense averages 37 points and nearly 500 yards per game. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea has become one of the best quarterbacks in the Mountain West Conference. His dual-threat ability keeps defenses on their toes. He has passed for 1,618 yards and 12 touchdowns with 410 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He has also become the first UNLV quarterback ever to win three Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week awards.
The ground game is once again led by running back Jai’den Thomas. He is fourth in the Mountain West in rushing yards with 615. He has found the end zone in six of the seven games that UNLV has played. He’s also continued his phenomenal streak of being tackled for a loss once all season. He’s complemented by running backs Keyvone Lee and Jaylon Glover. Lee has 213 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the season. Glover had an incredible 122-yard performance against Boise State, which included two runs of 35 yards or more.
Wide receiver Jaden Bradley has been Colandrea’s favorite target. He has 528 receiving yards, the fourth best in the Mountain West, and four touchdowns. He is also a contributor for the special teams unit with a punt return touchdown after a block, and he has a passing touchdown as well. Wide receiver Daejon Reynolds has been a deep threat for the offense. His big play was against Air Force, where he had an 86-yard touchdown, one of the longest plays in school history.
The defense has once again been the weakest link of this Rebels squad. They give up 33 points per game and nearly 500 yards per game, which counterbalances the offensive production. UNLV has ten interceptions which is ranked No. 8 nationally. Defensive back Aamaris Brown has four of those interceptions which earned him Midseason All-America honors from The Sporting News and AP.
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico enters this game with its best start in nearly a decade under first-year head coach Jason Eck. Quarterback Jack Layne has thrown for nearly 1,600 passing yards and nine touchdowns with a completion rate of 67%. He has built a great connection with his wide receiver Keagan Johnson who has 424 yards and two touchdowns this season.
The tight end duo of Cade Keith and Dorian Thomas is dangerous. Thomas has four touchdowns for 423 yards and Keith has two touchdowns for 178 yards.
Running back Damon Bankston is a weapon for New Mexico on the ground. His best game came against UCLA where he had 203 yards for two touchdowns. He also has a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown.
The defense for New Mexico is great at stopping the run, holding opposing offenses to 120 yards on the ground per game. The Lobos do struggle against the pass giving up nearly 250 yards per game. Linebacker Jaxton Eck has been the team’s best tackler with 45 solo tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. Eck is also the son of head coach Jason Eck.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Limit Damon Bankston
Bankston is prone to breaking off for big-time runs. He is also extremely effective, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and scoring a touchdown in three of his last four games. UNLV has struggled to stop the ground game recently so stopping Bankston early and forcing New Mexico to beat UNLV through the air is important for the Rebels to control the tempo of the game.
2. Finish Drives in the Red Zone
The Lobos’ red zone defense isn’t great, allowing scores 88% of the time, so the Rebels need to take advantage of that. UNLV can’t afford to settle for field goals, especially with how weak the defense has been. Scoring touchdowns on red zone chances will be a big difference maker.
3. Score Early
UNLV needs to jump out to an early lead, because they are at its best when leading early. The Rebels can’t be playing from behind like they did against Boise State. This will also force New Mexico to take more risks on offense as they try to come from behind.
Predictions
New Mexico is a solid team that is on the come-up. UNLV has great offensive balance and should be able to press the defense through the air. Colandrea will continue his incredible season with another stellar outing. I believe that the Rebels will win 42-24 and start the final month of the regular season on a positive note.
