The New Mexico State Aggies (4-5, 5-4 ATS, 3-6 O/U) clash with the Missouri Tigers (4-6, 5-5 ATS, 2-8 O/U) in an inter-conference bout on Saturday night. The Aggies defeated Lamar of the FCS last week. The Tigers were routed in a road loss against Tennessee in their previous action.
The New Mexico State Aggies are playing with confidence. This is a program that usually struggles to win more than three games per year and they are currently enjoying a three-game winning streak. They defeated rival New Mexico to begin the streak, followed by a 23-13 road win at UMass, and were 22-point favorites in a 51-14 home win against FCS opponent Lamar last week. The Aggies have covered the spread in three consecutive games.
The Aggies will give two QBs playing time. Diego Pavia has seen most of the action in the last few games and is playing well, logging four TD passes in his last two games. The junior QB has accrued 662 passing yards and is mobile, adding 239 rushing yards. Gavin Frakes has 639 passing yards along with a 4:6 TD to INT ratio.
The offense will use several different running backs. Star Thomas is t he rushing leader. The sophomore RB has reached the 100-yard mark once this season and has 375 rushing yards while Jamoni Jones has collected 237 yards. The receiving core only has one player with at least 300 yards, Justice Powers. The senior WR made four catches last week and has filed 315 receiving yards, The NMSU offense has only scored more than 23 points against an FBS foe once all season in a win against Hawaii.
You know the deal by now.
We win. We sing. ??? #AggieUp pic.twitter.com/NvGSt28xyz
— New Mexico State Football (@NMStateFootball) November 13, 2022
The Aggies' defense has been their top strength all season. They have conceded 21 or fewer points in four consecutive games including just nine against New Mexico. The unit held Lamar to only 247 total yards last week. The pass defense is especially a strength, ranking 13th while the rush defense is 98th. New Mexico State is posting an average of 19.9 points, pegging them 115th. They are allowing an average of 25.6 points, positioning them 61st in the FBS.