Montana State Bobcats Set to Face New Mexico Lobos in Season Opener

The 2024 NCAA college football season is scheduled to commence on Saturday, featuring a limited Week 0 schedule that includes a significant matchup between the Montana State Bobcats and the New Mexico Lobos. The game marks an exciting occasion as it brings together an FCS team and an FBS opponent.

Last season, Montana State finished with an 8-4 overall record and secured a 6-2 standing in Big Sky Conference play. Their previous season concluded with a narrow 35-34 overtime defeat against North Dakota State in the second round of the FCS playoffs. Conversely, New Mexico ended its 2023 season with a 4-8 overall record, also posting a 2-6 mark against Mountain West Conference rivals.

This matchup will be historic as it is the third encounter between the Bobcats and the Lobos, occurring for the first time since the 1947 Harbor Bowl, which ended in a 13-13 tie. The kickoff is set for 4 p.m. ET at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Despite being the lower-division team, the Bobcats have been established as 12.5-point favorites in the latest betting odds for this matchup. The over/under for total points scored in the game has been set at 53.5. Montana State stands at -550 on the moneyline, requiring a risk of $550 to win $100, making this the first instance since 2013 that an FCS team is favored by more than ten points against an FBS rival.

Expert analysis by proven analysts reveals that Montana State boasted one of the most potent offenses in the FCS last season. They ranked second nationally in points per game, averaging 39.9, and third in total yards per game with an average of 473.1. The team displayed offensive proficiency, scoring at least 40 points in seven contests, with a remarkable season-opening performance that resulted in a 63-point game against their opponent.

Returning players like Sean Chambers, who shared quarterback duties previously, completed 63% of his passes, achieved 1,068 passing yards, and accounted for ten touchdown passes against only two interceptions. Furthermore, Montana State’s ground game averaged an impressive 293 yards per game, contributing to a total of 41 touchdowns throughout the season.

On the other hand, the Lobos demonstrated improvement last season, increasing their scoring average to 27.3 points compared to 13.1 in the previous year. New Mexico holds a strong record against FCS teams with a historic 20-3 advantage, having last fallen to an FCS opponent in 2011.

The Lobos are set to introduce a new starting quarterback this season, who performed admirably during his freshman campaign in 2023, recording a total of 525 passing yards with six touchdowns, in addition to contributing 328 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

As both teams prepare for this much-anticipated game, the excitement builds within the college football community, looking forward to what promises to be a thrilling match on the gridiron.