You’ve likely been made well aware that Oklahoma and Alabama have the top two scoring offenses in the FBS, but you may have absolutely no idea that Utah State is third on that list with 47.2 points per game.
Their opponents in the New Mexico Bowl, the North Texas Mean Green, had a pretty good offensive season as well, entering the game with the No. 21 scoring offense at 36.4 points per game.
Utah State is a 9-point betting favorite at Albuquerque, where they are expecting a nice fall day at kickoff – cloudy and around 48 degrees.
North Texas vs Utah State New Mexico Bowl Game Center
Utah State Coach Resigned After Regular Season
Mountain West coach of the year Matt Wells resigned to take the Texas Tech job ahead of Utah State’s bowl game, so the Aggies will be guided by Frank Maile on an interim basis on Saturday. Gary Andersen returns to take over next season.
So Maile, who is a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, will be the head coach for one game, a bowl game, as Utah State looks for its first bowl victory since 2014. With the coaching situation in flux, things will undoubtedly be a little hectic on the Utah State sideline.
Two High-Scoring Teams
With a game featuring unfamiliar opponents (these schools have not met since 2004) and two top-25 offenses in the FBS, the total opened at 64 and has since climbed to 67.
North Texas, with the No. 21 scoring offense, had some impressive offensive games but the majority of them came against teams with scoring defenses ranked in the bottom of the FBS or FCS. The best defensive team they’ve played to this point is Louisiana Tech, the No. 41 scoring defense, and the Mean Green put up 27 points in that game.
Utah State played a much tougher schedule than North Texas, including a 38-31 loss to Michigan State, a 45-20 victory over BYU and a 33-24 loss to No. 25 Boise State in its final game of the season.
My Pick for This Game
With no common opponents and no history between these schools, it does make it a little tough to make a pick. However, Utah State played the tougher schedule, has the No. 3 scoring offense in the country and went 9-3 ATS in 2018.
I think oddsmakers have adjusted for the coaching situation at Utah State and if Wells hadn’t left, then we’d be looking at a double-digit spread for this game.
Considering similar scoring defenses (North Texas No. 31, Utah State No. 38), strength of schedule and Utah State’s ability to stay in games with ranked teams Michigan State and Boise State, I’m backing Utah State at -9.
For more bowl information, check out our College Football Bowl Betting Central