2017 Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl Odds And Prediction

TUCSON, AZ – DECEMBER 29: Head coach Brian Polian of the Nevada Wolf Pack holds up the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl trophy after defeating the Colorado State Rams 28-23 at Arizona Stadium on December 29, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2017 Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl Odds And Prediction

Bowl season is really ramping up with nine games between Friday and Saturday. I will be here giving you all of the info you need to make an educated pick against the spread if you so choose. Bowl season got off to a tough start, but I have improved lately. Next up is the Aggie Bowl, aka the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl, a bowl that seems like it should have been played a week ago.

More from College Football Odds

For the rest of the bowl season, you will get my picks against the spread and point wagers just like I did all season long. I had a solid regular season, but I can make it look a whole lot better with a strong bowl season!

Just in case you missed any:
R+L Carriers New Mexico Bowl
Autonation Cure Bowl
Las Vegas Bowl
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
Raycom Camellia Bowl
Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl
DXL Frisco Bowl
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
Bahamas Bowl
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Birmingham Bowl
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Dollar General Bowl
Hawaii Bowl
Zaxby’s Heart Of Dallas Bowl
Quick Lane Bowl
Cactus Bowl
Walk On’s Independence Bowl
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Foster Farms Bowl
Academy Sports And Outdoors Texas Bowl
Northrup Grumman Military Bowl
Camping World Bowl
Valero Alamo Bowl
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl
Belk Bowl
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

WINSTON SALEM, NC – SEPTEMBER 16: Quarterback Kent Myers #2 of the Utah State Aggies runs the football against defensive back Jessie Bates III #3 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the football game at BB&T Field on September 16, 2017 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

New Mexico State vs. Utah State(-4.5) at Tucson, AZ(2):

New Mexico State 6-6, 4-4 (t-5th Sun Belt):

Wins: at New Mexico(30-28), vs. UTEP(41-14), at Georgia Southern(35-27), at Texas State(45-35), vs. Idaho(17-10), vs. South Alabama(22-17)

Losses: at Arizona State(31-37), vs. Troy(24-27), at Arkansas(24-42), at Appalachian State(31-45), vs. Arkansas State(21-37), at Louisiana(34-47)

Record vs. bowl teams: 0-4

The last time New Mexico State made a bowl game was 1960. My mother was one year old. John F. Kennedy was elected president. Elvis Presley reached sergeant in the U.S. Army. The Raiders joined the AFL. Dallas and Minnesota were granted NFL franchises. Jimi Hendrix played his first live concert. Alabama won the 25th Iron Bowl 3-0.

Fast forward to 2017. Kennedy, Presley, and Hendrix are no longer with us. My mother still is. The Raiders went from Oakland to L.A. to Oakland to almost L.A. to Sin City. Dallas and Minnesota are still going strong. Auburn won this year’s Iron Bowl. And the Aggies are back in a bowl!

This isn’t just feeling sorry for the Aggies. They have some legit playmakers on offense beginning with QB Tyler Rogers. He threw for 3,825 yards this year. If you have read my columns over the years, you have heard me gush about RB Larry Rose III. Rose’s numbers haven’t been as big as they were in his first two seasons, but the yardage is about the same. He has evolved his game to fit the offense, and had nearly 500 receiving yards to go with his 800 rushing.

Utah State 6-6,4-4 (t-6th MWC):

Wins: vs. Idaho State(51-13), at San Jose State(61-10), vs. BYU(40-24), at UNLV(52-28), at New Mexico(24-10), vs. Hawaii(38-0)

Losses: at (9)Wisconsin(10-59), at Wake Forest(10-46), vs. Colorado State(14-27), vs.Wyoming(23-28), vs. Boise State(14-41), at Air Force(35-38)

Record vs. bowl teams: 0-5

The Aggies played better with Jordan Love under center, but this defense still had some letdowns. Most notably against Air Force after their best performance of the season shutting out Hawaii the week before. Utah State struggled with good offenses this year, which is not good news heading into this one.

Prediction:

This is going to come down to who can play the best defense. If you look at the bowls so far, the Sun Belt certainly seems to be better than everyone thought. Add that to the fact that New Mexico State’s offense is good enough to get to Utah State, and I will go with the upset here, 57 years in the making!

Pick: New Mexico State

Next: 2017 Capital One Bowl Mania Picks

Stay tuned for the rest of the bowl picks against the spread, and our DFS picks for the NBA, NFL, and even some NHL action! We have something for everyone