BYU UTEP New Mexico Bowl Preview

BYU UTEP New Mexico Bowl Preview

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BYU and UTEP kick off the Bowl season tomorrow in the 5th New Mexico Bowl. The match-up is a classic case of too many average teams playing in too many bowl games. Both teams are 6-6 and the game is taking place in Albuquerque, NM. I’m guessing there will be no more than 25,000 people in the stands.
If you’re a fan of either team though, you’re just glad to see your team play another ball game and one that will be televised on ESPN.
BYU is an 11.5 point favorite. BYU and UTEP teams have experienced somewhat opposite fates this year. UTEP started out 5-1 and then dropped 5 of their last 6. BYU started 1-4 and then went 5-2 to finish the season. The Cougars should have the momentum. As we all know though, bowl games are a total crap shoot. Though the coaches love the extra practice time to evaluate talent for next year, you never know if the athletes, and especially the seniors, really care at all. Not to mention, BYU is coming off the heartbreaking loss to Utah. Recent history has shown that the Cougars don’t play as well in bowl games after losing to Utah. However, this BYU team is still relatively young and looking to forge a strong identity. I expect them to come out prepared and to play hard.
Here is a link to a preview on the game from Vanquish the Foe, a BYU blog:

And one from Miner Rush, to get both perspectives: http://www.minerrush.com/2010/12/16/1880944/new-mexico-bowl-keys-to-success#storyjump

Matt Nielson has been writing about the college sports landscape in Utah and the Intermountain West since 2010. When he’s not pretending to be a professional blogger, he works full time as a residential real estate agent and house flipper. Matt graduated from Brigham Young University in 2000. He and his family reside in Salt Lake City, UT.

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