New Mexico Bowl Wyoming vs. Fresno State Start Time, TV Guide & Odds
Albuquerque, NM – Led by the top rusher in the nation, Fresno State will be looking for a better outcome when it plays in its second straight New Mexico Bowl.
For Wyoming, led by first-year coach Dave Christensen, merely appearing in a postseason game for the first time in five years is a big step for the program.
The Bulldogs and Cowboys kick off the bowl season when they meet in Albuquerque on Saturday.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made Fresno State -10.5 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Saturday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 69% of bets for this game have been placed on Fresno State -10.5 (View College Football bet percentages).
Fresno State had a rough start to the year, losing three of four. Two of the losses came against ranked teams and one was in double overtime.
The Bulldogs (8-4) rebounded to go 7-1 over their final eight games, ending the season with a 53-52 overtime victory at Illinois and earning a trip to Albuquerque for the second consecutive season.
Fresno State is led by junior running back Ryan Mathews, who topped the Football Bowl Subdivision with 151.3 rushing yards per game. The first-team All-WAC player scored 17 touchdowns to give him 37 for his career, breaking the school record set by Anthony Daigle from 1991-93. He is the second Bulldogs back to run for more than 3,000 yards.
Mathews helped Fresno rank 14th in the nation in points per game at 34.3. The Bulldogs were 19th in yards per contest with 435.9.
With one of the nation's most prolific offenses, the Bulldogs might have gone to a more prestigious bowl game if they had played better defense. They ranked 111th against the rush at 212.4 yards per game and were 81st in scoring defense at 27.8 points a contest.
Fresno State is making its 10th bowl appearance in the last 11 seasons under coach Pat Hill, and the Bulldogs are looking to leave Albuquerque with a victory this time.
Despite coming into the 2008 New Mexico Bowl with a 7-5 record, Fresno State carried an eight-point lead over Colorado State into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs couldn't hold it, giving up 20 points in the final period to lose 40-35.
"We are a much different team, a more confident team than when we came to New Mexico a year ago," Hill told Fresno State's official Web site. "We were not a strong team at the end of last season and the fourth quarter against Colorado State showed that."
While Wyoming will be focused on trying to contain Mathews, it will also have to contend with Ryan Colburn, who threw for 2,333 yards and completed 60.2 percent of his passes. He had 18 touchdowns but was intercepted 11 times.
Wyoming (6-6) won its final game to become bowl eligible. The Cowboys will be playing in their first bowl game since beating UCLA 24-21 in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl.
"It is a great feeling to know that our players bought in to and believe in our system, our program and what we are trying to get done," Christensen said. "Our senior class, the 16 seniors, have done a tremendous job of laying the foundation for what this program is all about and providing unbelievable leadership throughout the year."
Wyoming earned a postseason berth despite a difficult season, getting shut out three times and suffering its other three losses by a combined 108-30. Four of the defeats, though, came against Top 25 teams.
The Cowboys managed to win two of their last three following a three-game losing streak, beating Colorado State 17-16 in its finale Nov. 27. Ian Watts kicked a 33-yard field goal with 1:27 remaining to put his team ahead en route to a bowl berth.
Wyoming is led by freshman Austyn Carta-Samuels, who threw for 1,752 yards and completed 59 percent of his passes, but tossed only seven touchdowns with four interceptions. He had one passing touchdown over the final six games, getting sacked 20 times in that span.
Saturday's game could be a high-scoring one with Wyoming also struggling defensively. The Cowboys gave up 27.3 points a game and ranked 91st against the rush at 170.5 yards per contest.
Wyoming forced 14 turnovers in its first six games but only six over the last six. The Cowboys, though, finished with a plus-7 turnover margin, a big improvement after being at minus-22 last year.
Fresno State won the last matchup with Wyoming 24-7 on Nov. 22, 1997, when both teams played in the WAC. The two have split six meetings, with this being the first at a neutral site.
2009 New Mexico Bowl
Teams: Wyoming vs. Fresno State
Kickoff: Dec. 19, 2009 at 4:30PM ET
Venue: University Stadium
TV: ESPN
Odds:
Wyoming +10.5 Over 55.5 (+350)
Fresno State -10.5 Under 55.5 (-500)
New Mexico Bowl Wyoming vs. Fresno State Picks & Predictions
The 2009-10 College Football Bowl Season kickoffs Saturday when Fresno State and Wyoming meet in the 2009 New Mexico Bowl from University Stadium at 4:30PM ET.
Fresno State is 8-4 on the season and 7-4 against the point spread odds. The Bulldogs won two-straight to end the regular season but have covered in just two of their last five.
Wyoming is 6-6 this season with an 8-3 record against the spread. The Cowboys won two of their last three to qualify for a bowl.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL have made Fresno State 10.5-point favorites over Wyoming on Saturday night. The over/under total for this game has been established at 55.5.
Fresno State is scoring 34.3 points per-game on the year and has the second best rushing attack in the WAC Conference with 2,779 yards on the ground as a team. Ryan Mathews has rushed for 1,664 yards and 17 touchdowns to lead Fresno State. Wyoming is allowing 27.3 points per-game on defense and has the second worst rushing defense in the Mountain West Conference, giving up 170.5 yards per-game on the ground.
Wyoming is scoring only 16.9 points per-game on the year and is totaling just under 300 yards of offense per-game. The Bulldogs are allowing 27.8 points per-game on defense and have been susceptible to the run, giving up 2,549 yards on the ground this year.
The key in this pick seems to be simply that Wyoming is over-matched by Fresno State. The Cowboys struggle on both sides of the ball but managed to win six games while the Bulldogs have been a very competitive teams all season and have a strong running back that is facing a weak rushing defense. Unless you feel that the Mountain West is a much better conference than the WAC, we suggest you take a pick of Fresno State and the Under.
Our New Mexico Bowl Free Pick for this matchup is: FRESNO STATE -10.5 and UNDER 55.5.
College Football Bowl Season Betting Trends
WYOMING is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.
FRESNO ST is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in games played on a grass field over the last 2 seasons.
Wyoming is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 games
Wyoming is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Fresno State is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Fresno State's last 6 games
Wyoming
7-3 ATS as an underdog
11-7 ATS off road conference win
Fresno State
2-11 ATS after allowing 50+ points
2-11 ATS off a road game
Bowl Season College Football Injury Report
WYOMING
No significant injuries.
FRESNO ST
[RB] 12/07/2009 - Ryan Mathews probable vs Wyoming in the New Mexico Bowl. ( Leg )
New Mexico Bowl Odds
Wyoming Cowboys +10.5 Over 55.5 (+350)
Fresno State Bulldogs -10.5 Under 55.5 (-500)
Looks like the dough is coming in on the Cowboys.
Down to 10.
BTW Blade,
THANK YOU!!
College Football:
New Mexico Bowl: 4:30 EST
1/4* Wyoming +10.5 over Fresno St
1/4* Wyoming $line +350 over Fresno St
I'll take a shot with the double digit underdog pokes in the bowl opener.....
2 Best Bets today: one in hoops, and one on the gridiron........
Hook