The 2024 NCAA college football season opens Saturday with a four-game schedule in Week 0 that will include the FCS Montana State Bobcats visiting the FBS New Mexico Lobos. Montana State went 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Big Sky Conference play last year, with its final game being a 35-34 overtime loss to North Dakota State in the second round of the FCS playoffs. New Mexico finished 4-8 overall in 2023 and 2-6 against Mountain West Conference rivals. This will mark just the third time the Bobcats and Lobos have met in history, and the first time since the 1947 Harbor Bowl, when the games ended in a 13-13 tie.
Kickoff at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico is scheduled for 4 PM ET. Despite being the FCS side, the Bobcats are 12.5-point favorites in the latest Montana State vs. New Mexico odds, and the over/under for total points is 53.5. Montana State is a -550 favorite on the money line (risk $550 to win $100), making the Bobcats a double-digit FCS favorite against an FBS team for the first time since 2013. Before you make any New Mexico vs. Montana State picks or college football predictions, you should hear from SportsLine's Emory Hunt.
Hunt is the founder and CEO of Football Game Plan, which has been providing football analysis at all levels since 2007, and a former running back for Louisiana-Lafayette. He knows the game from a player's perspective. Plus, Hunt had 93 wins, 78 losses, and 5 ties (+777) in his college football predictions last year, putting him pretty high up there for anyone who follows him.
Now, Hunt has set his sights on Montana State vs. New Mexico and has locked in his predictions and CFB predictions. Visit SportsLine now to see Hunt's predictions. Here are some college football odds and betting lines for New Mexico vs. Montana State:
Montana State vs. New Mexico Spread: Bobcats -12.5Montana State vs. New Mexico Over/Under: 53.5 pointsMontana State vs. New Mexico Money Line: Bobcats -550, Lobos +400MSU: The Bobcats have lost 13 straight games to FBS opponentsUNM: The Lobos have won each of their last nine meetings against FCS teamsMontana State vs. New Mexico Picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Montana has you covered
The Bobcats had the FCS's top offensive output last season, ranking second in points per game (39.9) and third in yards per game (473.1). They scored 40 or more points in seven of 12 games, including a season-high 63 points in the season opener against Utah Tech. Tommy Mellott, who shared the quarterback role with now-departed Sean Chambers in 2023, completed 63% of his pass attempts for 1,068 yards and 10 touchdowns with just two interceptions, while also rushing for 690 yards and five scores.
Montana State's ground attack, which averaged 293 yards rushing and scored 41 touchdowns last year, also features returning rushers Julius Davis and Scottore Humphrey. Davis led the team with 722 yards rushing and six rushing touchdowns in his first season with the Bobcats after transferring from Wisconsin. Humphrey had 433 yards on 54 carries and eight rushing scores as a 2023 freshman. Find out who to root for at SportsLine.
Why New Mexico has you covered
The Lobos averaged 27.3 points per game last season and 13.1 points in 2022, the second-largest increase in the FBS over that span. They've had plenty of success against FCS teams, posting a 20-3 record overall and haven't lost since a 48-45 overtime loss to Sam Houston State in 2011. New Mexico is currently on a winning streak against FCS opponents, winning by an average of 33.2 points.
Devon Dampier took over as the Lobos' starting quarterback this year after throwing for 525 yards and six touchdowns in his freshman season in 2023. He was also a threat with his legs, rushing for 328 yards and four scores. With leading runner Jacory Crosskey Merritt transferring to Arizona State, Andrew Henry became the team's first choice in the backfield. Henry averaged 6.7 yards on 52 carries and had three touchdown runs last season at New Mexico after transferring from UL-Monroe. Find out who to root for with SportsLine.
How to predict Montana State vs. New Mexico
Hunt broke down the matchup and, while he's clearly leaning towards the under on the point total, he found a key X-factor that would have him jumping to one side of the spread, and he's sharing exclusively with SportsLine what it is and which side he's backing.
Who will win Saturday's Montana State vs. University of New Mexico game, and what are the key factors for betting on either team over the spread? Visit SportsLine now for Saturday's University of New Mexico vs. Montana State predictions from an expert who went 93-78-5 in college football predictions last year.
