2021 New Mexico Bowl Preview: UTEP vs. Fresno State

The New Mexico Bowl will be played in Albuquerque. The University of New Mexico used to be part of the Western Athletic Conference, and Albuquerque was therefore a WAC city. UTEP and Fresno State both used to be members of the WAC as well. UTEP surprised a lot of people this season to make a bowl game, while Fresno State was a foremost competitor in the Mountain West Conference and nearly won both the division and the conference, coming just short at the end of the regular season. These two teams enter this bowl game under different circumstances, with a few extra plot twists involved. It will be fascinating to see if the game matches expectations or if there’s a surprise in store, which often happens during bowl season.

UTEP Miners vs. Fresno State Bulldogs
Date: Saturday, December 18th, 2:15 PM ET

Location: University Stadium, Albuquerque, NM

CFB Odds: Fresno State -10.5

UTEP Miners

Not much was expected from the UTEP football team this season. The Miners have generally struggled for most of the past 15 seasons, laboring in obscurity in a quiet corner of the country. It has been hard for this program to develop momentum, but it found a bolt of lightning this season under head coach Dana Dimel. The Miners won a series of close games early in the season to establish a foundation and give themselves enough of a margin for error that they were able to clinch a bowl bid. UTEP lost three in a row and four out of five to close the regular season, but it won six of its first seven games to give itself a cushion.

The key wins for UTEP came on Sept. 25 against New Mexico, a hard-earned 20-13 win, and then on Oct. 2 against Old Dominion, a tense 28-21 victory. UTEP’s defense thrived during that portion of the season, allowing an average of just 12.5 points per game in a four-game winning streak heading into late October. Then came the losses, but UTEP had already banked enough wins to make its season a success. When UTEP beat Rice 38-28 on Nov. 20, the Miners clinched a winning record at 7-5. Even if they lose here, they will have a winning year.

Fresno State Bulldogs

The Bulldogs were solid in Mountain West play. They would have won the conference if they hadn’t suffered an unexpected loss at Hawaii in a game they were heavily favored to win. Even then, Fresno State had a chance to win its division, but Boise State blew a 16-3 lead to San Diego State and lost to the Aztecs. Fresno State needed Boise State to win that game in order to claim the division championship. It was not meant to be.

The big news for Fresno State heading into this game is that quarterback Jake Haener did not transfer to Washington with coach Kalen DeBoer, as many had expected he would. He stayed with the Bulldogs, which is a real shot in the arm for this team heading into this postseason contest.

Outlook

Haener staying with Fresno State is probably the most important story of this game. Fresno State players should be excited to play with – and for – Haener. The Bulldogs should be very energized. They have more talent than UTEP does and should prevail.

Miners vs. Bulldogs Prediction:

Bulldogs 38, Miners 23