Oct. 31—New Mexico (5-3, 2-2) takes on UNLV (6-1, 2-1) Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the Lobos’ first opportunity to clinch a bowl bid this season.
Here are three keys and a prediction as UNM looks to make history in head coach Jason Eck’s first year:
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1. Contain Colandrea
The Mountain West’s leaders in total offense per game entering Saturday:
1. San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget (308.9 yards per game)
2. Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado (305.2)
3. UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea (289.7)
4. Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes (271.9)
UNM did an excellent job against Barnes last week, holding the Aggies’ dual-threat quarterback to just 168 total yards in a 33-14 win. And it’ll need an effort just as good — if not better — to get a handle on UNLV’s Colandrea, a 6-0, 205-pound Virginia transfer.
Why? If Barnes was more of a patient, tough runner, Colandrea can flat-out fly.
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“You gotta be sound on the zone read game because if you take too many steps or turn your shoulders, he’s gonna pull it and he’s gonna be gone,” Eck said. “He’s very, very fast — I think that’s the thing that really stands out. Obviously he’s not the huge specimen that Michigan’s guy (Bryce Underwood) was or the UCLA guy (Nico Iamaleava), but this guy is fast and he can throw it.”
Colandrea (58.57 rushing yards per game) has also been pretty solid handling pressure, completing 23 of 43 attempts (53.5%) for 326 yards, a league-best four touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s been a problem for opposing defenses all year long, and figures to be one for UNM come Saturday — keep an eye out for what the Lobos decide to throw at him.
2. Limit big runs
UNLV has popped for 18 explosive runs (20 yards or more) entering Saturday, tied for the 10th best mark in the 136-team FBS. Colandrea and running back Jai’Den Thomas (615 yards, seven touchdowns) have accounted for all but three of them in an offense Eck believes is the best in the conference.
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“They’re just outside the top 10 in yards per carry in the country,” he added. “So I think it starts there with (UNLV’s) physicality, but then you incorporate really good skill players all the way around … I think it’s a very talented team, for sure, that we’re playing.”
Conversely, UNM has been excellent limiting explosive runs, allowing only four on the season. The Lobos have shown they can limit big runs; doing so Saturday ought to be a major priority.
3. Take advantage of the Rebels’ weaknesses
To be clear, they do have a few. For instance:
UNLV has generated just eight sacks this season, tied with (of all teams) Georgia for the 127th-worst mark in the country. Could that help a passing attack that’s ebbed and flowed this season?The Rebels are averaging 70 penalty yards per game, the second-highest mark in the conference. UNM, however, is averaging a league-worst 76.8 per game — can the Lobos limit penalties and take advantage when UNLV is flagged?UNLV is allowing 67.7 kickoff returns per game, the worst average in the league. A second straight game with a special teams score — or even just an awfully long return, perhaps from running back Damon Bankston — could certainly provide a boost for the road team.
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4. Bonus key: Don’t turn it over
A key (however redundant) for every game, but especially this one. UNLV enters Saturday with the third-best turnover margin (1.43) in the country, the byproduct of an offense with only six turnovers and a whopping 16 takeaways — something that’s kept a less-than-stellar defense alive in key moments.
“I think they have a knack for making big plays,” Eck said.
UNM broke through and completed a turnover-free game against a Utah State team that’s so-so when it comes to generating turnovers. Doing so against UNLV would mark a massive step forward, and put the Lobos in an excellent position to win.
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Prediction
Last week, I predicted that Utah State’s Barnes would give the Aggies a winning edge. That, of course, didn’t happen — UNM did a nice job limiting Barnes and never had much of a real issue with Utah State.
Can the Lobos do a similar job on Colandrea? We’ll see. Whether he has a big day or not, though, I think this UNLV offense can consistently stress UNM’s defense in a lot of ways. That, to me, should be the difference maker. UNLV 31, New Mexico 27
