College football bowl season has arrived as teams across the country are preparing to face their opponents with the hope of ending the year on a high note. The 2022 New Mexico Bowl will pit the SMU Mustangs (7-5) against the BYU Cougars (7-5) in what will surely be a stellar game to watch.
Here's everything you need to know about the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 17.
Where is New Mexico Bowl 2022?
The 2022 edition of the New Mexico Bowl will be played at University Stadium in Albuquerque, NM. University Stadium serves as the home of the New Mexico Lobos' NCAA football team. The stadium opened in 1960, seats 39,224 and is hosting for the 17th time.
When is SMU vs BYU New Mexico Bowl?
The New Mexic o Bowl is scheduled during college football's bowl season. The game will be played on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET and airs live on ABC.
New Mexico Bowl SMU vs BYU Prediction and Odds 2022
The odds point to this being an evenly-matched contest, but I'm giving the edge to BYU due to its defense. On top of allowing nearly 40 more yards per game than its New Mexico Bowl opponent, SMU surrendered the 10th-most points in the nation this season (36.4 PPG) and has allowed 59-plus points in two of its last four games.
The Cougars haven't been perfect, but they have kept opponents to 28 or fewer points over their last three games. Furthermore, BYU Is a respectable 5-1 in its last six games against AAC programs, whereas SMU has dropped six straight to independent FBS schools.
In a world where SMU's defense is built like Swiss cheese, back BYU to come out on the right side of this probable shootout.
Moneyline:'SMU: (-188) | BYU: (+155)
Spread:'SMU: -4.5 (-110) | BYU: +4.5 (-110)
Total:'64.5 -'Over: (-110) | Under: (-110)
Final Score Prediction:'BYU: 45 | SMU: 35
SMU vs BYU History
SMU and BYU have met head-to-head on the football field three times and it's the Cougars that have emerged victorious in each of those matchups. They took down the Mustangs, 19-16, during their most recent meeting in 1997.