An Eye On The Lobos: vs. Boise State Preview

Two teams heading in opposite directions will square off when #25 Boise State pays a visit to DreamStyle Stadium to play the New Mexico Lobos Friday night at 7 p.m. Mountain on CBS Sports Network and the Lobo Radio Network.

After five games this season both the Broncos and Lobos sat with a record of 3-2. Since then the Lobos have lost five straight and the Broncos have won five straight.

Last week the Lobos thin defense was gashed for 478 rushing yards in a 42-24 loss to Air Force. A loss that knocked UNM from Bowl eligibility and guaranteed their fifth losing season in seven under Bob Davie and ninth in the last 11 seasons over all.

Boise State, meanwhile, has everything to play for. They rallied from a 17-3 deficit last week to beat Fresno State, and a win this week sets up a game against Utah State next week in which the winner goes to the MWC Championship Game and keeps their New Year’s Six hopes alive.

For the Lobos it will be an uphill task to win. Sheriron Jones and Coltin Gerhart will split snaps tonight hoping to reinvigorate an offense that has stalled over the last five games.

Defensively the key will be to slow down BSU’s Alexander Mattison, who ran for 144 yards on Fresno State, and attempt to pressure Brett Rypien with different blitz packages.

Bob Davie’s biggest win as the Lobo coach came against Boise State. A win tonight would almost top that effort, help build a case to keep his job, and ruin Boise State’s NY6 dreams. No pressure, right?