Latest Arizona vs. New Mexico Odds: Who Is Favored to Win? 👇
Arizona enters the contest as a 31-point favorite against New Mexico, per DraftKings Sportsbook. To cover the spread, the Wildcats need to win by at least 32 points.
| 🔢 Spread | Arizona -31, New Mexico +31 |
| 📊 Moneyline | Arizona -50000, New Mexico +4000 |
| 📈 Game Total | Over/under 59 points |
| ✅ Last Verified | December 20, 2024 |
Odds at other sportsbooks, like bet365 Arizona, may differ slightly.
Fresh off a 10-win season, Arizona is expected to roll in its season opener against New Mexico. The contest features two first-year head coaches. Brent Brennan will make his debut for Arizona. Bronco Mendenhall will be coaching on the road for the first time for New Mexico.
What the Spread Tells Us
As a four-plus-score favorite, Arizona is expected to roll big in Brennan's debut. To compliment a 10-3 record last season, the Wildcats were even better against the spread, going 11-2. New Mexico was worse against the spread (3-8-1) than it was overall (4-8) in 2023.
What the Moneyline Tells Us
For Arizona sports bettors confident in the visiting Lobos, a moneyline wager may be the way to go. At +4000, a $10 bet on New Mexico to win outright would pay $400. New Mexico won twice as an underdog last season, which included a 25-17 road win over Fresno State as a 22.5-point favorite.
Related Arizona Wildcats Betting Content:
Wildcats Chances to Win vs. New Mexico in Week 1
In addition to the new coaches at each school, the storyline in the opener might be a familiar face to New Mexico. After rushing for nearly 1,200 yards last season for the Lobos, Jacory Croskey-Merritt will make his debut for Arizona. The Wildcats will also be playing their first game as a member of the Big 12. Arizona is expected to roll against an opponent it has traditionally had success against it.
How the Wildcats Win vs. New Mexico
For Arizona last season, the strength was the defense as the Wildcats allowed just over 21 points per game. For the Wildcats to be successful against New Mexico, the recipe may be as simple as not beating themselves. In its three losses last season, Arizona was a combined -4 in turnover margin. Offensively, Croskey-Merritt will be a welcomed addition to the Wildcats, but after a 90-catch, 1,402-yard season, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan remains the most dangerous player for Arizona. Get those two going and New Mexico will have little chance.
How the Lobos Win vs. Arizona
New Mexico was a middle-of-the-pack offense in the Mountain West last season, but when it came to getting stops, the Lobos were dismal. As a whole, New Mexico ranked dead last in scoring defense in the conference, allowing more than 35 points per game, and just 126th in the country. If the Lobos have any chance to win, this contest will probably need to be played in the 20s.
Other Arizona Wildcats Matchups This Season:
History of UofA vs. New Mexico Series
The Aug. 31 contest will be the 68th meeting between the schools, but the first since 2015 when the teams met in the New Mexico Bowl. It will be the first contest between the schools in the regular season since 2008 and the first in Tucson since 2007. Once Western Athletic Conference (WAC) rivals, the teams met every year from 1946 to 1977, but just six times since.
Wildcats Record vs. New Mexico
The Wildcats hold a decided 44-20-3 edge all-time over New Mexico. That included a hard-fought 45-37 victory in the New Mexico Bowl to close the 2015 season. The Lobos, however, have won the last two regular season meetings between the schools (2007 and 2008). Arizona holds the longest winning streak in the series, taking 10 straight from 1947 to 1956. From 1938 to 1990, the winner of the annual contest took home the Kit Carson Rifle.
All-Time Best Arizona/New Mexico Games
Former WAC rivals, Arizona and New Mexico have played memorable games over the years. Here's a look back on three to remember.
Arizona 1, New Mexico 0 (Nov. 24, 1910 - forfeit)
The first home victory claimed by Arizona in the series actually came in a contest where neither team took the field. After losing its first two games by a combined score of 89-0, New Mexico president E. McQueen Gray requested that the contest against the Wildcats be canceled. It would be another 14 years before the Lobos beat Arizona.
New Mexico 29, Arizona 27 (Sept. 15, 2007)
In the last meeting in Tucson, New Mexico was able to hold off Arizona for a 2-point victory. Donovan Porterie passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns for the Lobos in the win while Willie Tuitama finished with 446 passing yards and three touchdown passes in the loss. Frankie Solomon's late interception of Tuitama sealed the win for the Lobos.
Arizona 45, New Mexico 37 (Dec. 19, 2015 - New Mexico Bowl)
One of two bowl meetings between the schools, Arizona watched what was an 18-point lead get whittled down to five by the Lobos in the final quarter. The Wildcats, however, sealed the win with a field goal and a late interception by Cam Denson. Jared Baker finished with 107 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the win. New Mexico quarterback Lamar Jordan accounted for four total touchdowns in the loss.
Wildcats vs. Lobos Odds FAQs
Arizona is listed as a 31-point favorite over New Mexico for its Aug. 31 opener, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel are among the most trusted sites for sports betting in the U.S. All three are among the 13 approved sportsbooks available for betting in Arizona.
Arizona holds a 44-20-3 lead in the all-time series against New Mexico. The Wildcats won the last meeting between the schools in the New Mexico Bowl to close the 2015 season.
New Mexico and Arizona will meet at 10:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson. The contest will air nationally on ESPN.
Arizona won its first-ever meeting with New Mexico by a 10-6 score in Albuquerque on Nov. 26, 1908.
Author
Mike Ferguson is a football betting analyst for BetArizona.com. Mike spends his days browsing the latest lines for all the top NFL football betting markets to find storylines curated specifically for sports bettors in AZ. Mike will also turn his attention to NBA, MLB or NHL betting lines that Arizona sports bettors might be interested in but football odds are Mike's expertise.
