New Mexico Bowl

New Mexico
vs
Nevada
Dec. 22 / 4:30 p.m.

For the second straight year New Mexico gets the best home field advantage of the bowl season. Ohio State fans might argue that LSU is getting the biggest boost and Illinois fans might say the same thing about USC, but neither of those teams are literally playing in their home stadium like the Lobos are. The Lobos have only lost once at home this season, a 7 point loss to MWC champ BYU. Now they get to battle another wild dog animal in the Nevada Wolfpack.

Five of Nevada's six losses this season came by 8 points or less, while New Mexico was able to go 4-2 in games decided by a touchdown or less. This is a big game as far as bragging rights will go in the BCS buster conferences. MWC vs WAC. Nevada will need a big game out of RS freshman Colin Kaepernick who is filling in for injured starter Nick Graziano. Kaepernick is a big, prototypical quarterback (6-6, 215) who is a threat with both his arm and his legs. Unfortunately for Nevada fans he is still a rough talent and isn't quite ready tolead a team with his arm alone.

New Mexico is looking for their first bowl win since 1961. They will try and dominate the game with their offensive line and keep this from turning into a shootout like Nevada will want. While going against an impressive losing streak like New Mexico's is usually the wrong call, I can't see the Lobos not winning at home against an undermatched opponent.

Line (wagerline.com): New Mexico -2.5, Total 57.0