The 2024 NCAA college football season begins Saturday with a four-game Week 0 schedule, including one matchup in which the FCS' Montana State Bobcats visit the New Mexico Lobos of the FBS. Montana State went 8-4 overall and 6-2 during Big Sky Conference play last year, with its final contest being a 35-34 overtime loss to North Dakota State in the second round of the FCS playoffs. New Mexico ended 2023 with a 4-8 overall record and a 2-6 mark against Mountain West Conference rivals. The Bobcats and Lobos are meeting for the third time in history and first since the 1947 Harbor Bowl, in which they played to a 13-13 tie.
Kickoff at University Stadium in Albuquerque, NM is set for 4 p.m. ET. Despite being the FCS side, the Bobcats are 12.5-point favorites in the latest Montana State vs. New Mexico odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 53.5. Montana State is the -550 favorite (risk $550 to win $100) on the money line and the Bobcats are the first double-digit FCS favorites against an FBS squad since 2013. Before making any New Mexico vs. Montana State picks or college football predictions, you need to see what SportsLine's Emory Hunt has to say.
Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Gameplan, which has been supplying analysis of all levels of football since 2007, and a former running back at Louisiana-Lafayette. He knows the game from a player's perspective. In addition, Hunt was 93-78-5 (+777) on his college football picks last year. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, Hunt has set his sights on Montana State vs. New Mexico and just locked in its picks and CFB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see Hunt's picks. Here are several college football odds and betting lines for New Mexico vs. Montana State:
- Montana State vs. New Mexico spread: Bobcats -12.5
- Montana State vs. New Mexico over/under: 53.5 points
- Montana State vs. New Mexico money line: Bobcats -550, Lobos +400
- MSU: The Bobcats have lost 13 consecutive games against FBS opponents
- UNM: The Lobos have won each of their last nine meetings with FCS teams
- Montana State vs. New Mexico picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Montana State can cover
The Bobcats had one of the top offenses in the FCS last season, ranking second in points per game (39.9) and third in yards per game (473.1). They scored at least 40 points in seven of their 12 contests, producing a season-high 63 in their campaign-opening victory against Utah Tech. Tommy Mellott, who shared time at quarterback with the now-departed Sean Chambers in 2023, completed 63% of his pass attempts for 1,068 yards with 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions while also running for 690 yards and five scores.
Montana State's ground attack, which averaged 293 yards and produced 41 TDs last year, also includes returnees Julius Davis and Scottre Humphrey. Davis led the team in rushing with 722 yards and had six touchdown runs in his first season with the Bobcats after transferring from Wisconsin. Humphrey gained 433 yards on 54 carries and rushed for eight scores as a freshman in 2023. See who to back at SportsLine.
Why New Mexico can cover
The Lobos scored an average of 27.3 points last season after producing 13.1 in 2022, the second-largest increase in the FBS over that span. They have enjoyed plenty of success against FCS teams, posting a 20-3 overall record, and haven't suffered a defeat since falling to Sam Houston State 48-45 in overtime in 2011. New Mexico has won by an average of 33.2 points during its current winning streak versus FCS opponents.
Devon Dampier takes over as the Lobos' starting quarterback this year following a 2023 freshman campaign during which he threw for 525 yards with six touchdowns. He also was dangerous with his legs, running for 328 yards and four scores. Top rusher Jacory Croskey-Merritt transferred to Arizona State, leaving Andrew Henry as the team's No. 1 option out of the backfield. After coming over from UL-Monroe, Henry averaged 6.7 yards on 52 carries and had three TD runs for New Mexico last season. See who to back at SportsLine.
How to make Montana State vs. New Mexico picks
Hunt has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he's leaning Under on the point total, he has discovered a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He's only sharing what it is, and which side to back, at SportsLine.
Who wins Montana State vs. New Mexico on Saturday, and which critical X-factor makes one side of the spread a must-back? Visit SportsLine now to see Saturday's New Mexico vs. Montana State picks, all from the expert who was 93-78-5 on his college football picks last year.