New FSM Game Preview: UNLV vs New Mexico - Week 10

New FSM Preview: UNLV vs New Mexico – Week 10

Franchise Sports Media

UNLV Rebels (0-8)  |  New Mexico Lobos (3-5)

 

 

This week, the UNLV Rebels are heading to New Mexico to take on the New Mexico Lobos.

 

Coming off of a frustrating and difficult loss to rival Nevada, the Rebels are looking to get on track in hopes of winning their first game of the season against New Mexico.

UNLV will take on a Lobos team that ranks 127th in college football in total offense, averaging just 251 yards per game while having the 116th-ranked rushing game at 106.1 yards per game. However, the odds favor the Lobos at -2 on the spread, with a total over/under at 45.

Statistically, this game shows as a dead heat between the two teams. UNLV is ranked 126th in total offense and has given up more yards per game at 392.5 than the Lobos at 348.9. In addition, the Rebels’ passing game is sitting at 177.6 yards per game, while the New Mexico defense has given up 200.3 passing yards per game.

Both teams have struggled on offense this season, which might lower this game’s scoring pace, but this is another chance for the Rebels to pull off a victory this week.

UNLV quarterback Cam Friel upped his yards per game average against Nevada to 172.5 yards per game and maintained a 66.4% completion percentage. While the Lobos defense has kept the passing game limited against their opponents this season, Friel will need to rely on short screens and fake outs to gain yardage through the air. Doug Brumfield should be ready to go after missing the last three games with a back injury.

With the Lobos’ passing defense comes how the wide receiver tandem of Steve Jenkins and Kyle Williams will fare. Jenkins leads the team in yardage with 420 and has four touchdowns on the season, while Williams has 336 receiving yards and a touchdown to his credit. Jenkins and Williams will need to find a way to get open while drawing the New Mexico safeties towards one or the other to allow for better opportunities at bigger shots down the field from Friel to gain some yardage.

 

Running back Charles Williams is up to 648 total yards on the season, including 125 receiving yards with five total touchdowns on the season.

 

“The Chuck Wagon,” who’s looking to break the UNLV All-Time rushing mark, needing just 45 yards to pass Tim Cornett, is currently standing 27th in the nation with 93.6 yards per game. Williams also comes into the contest with the most career net rushing yards gained on the FBS level (3,689) among all current players.

While it may not seem like a lot, the explosiveness of Williams has gotten around some formidable defenses this season, and he will need to bring some more of his star power to the table this week. New Mexico has given up 3.7 yards per carry this season, ranking 40th in the FBS. The Rebels have averaged only 2.6 yards per carry this season, which makes the need for Williams to have another breakout game all the more critical for the team.

The Rebels have forced six turnovers on defense this year, ranking 93rd in college football.  That’s an average of less than one per week, but the Lobos have committed eight turnovers on the season so far. As a result, new Mexico is outside the top 50 in college football in committing turnovers. Still, the Rebels will need to take advantage of defense and force the Lobos’ hands into committing errors on offense and gain as much control of the football as possible.

UNLV’s third-down conversion rate sits at 33.3%, while the Lobos have a 37.1% conversion rate on the season. With both defenses sitting in the mid-to-high 300s on opponent’s yards per game, converting on third downs will be critical for the Rebels to give themselves opportunities to score and control the football in a game where chances to score may be limited.

 

The UNLV Rebels will take on the New Mexico Lobos in New Mexico on Saturday. The game will start at 4:00 and can be heard on ESPN Las Vegas 100.9 FM/1100 AM radio and seen on the Stadium app.

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– Matt Dobbs – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Matt on Twitter @RecordBowler19

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