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New Mexico Bowl 2018: North Texas vs. Utah State live stream – Watch online

By Maitland Rutledge

DENTON, TX - OCTOBER 13: North Texas Mean Green running back DeAndre Torrey (13) celebrates a touchdown with his teammates during the game between the North Texas Mean Green and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on October 13, 2018 at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas. North Texas defeats So. Miss 30-7. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DENTON, TX - OCTOBER 13: North Texas Mean Green running back DeAndre Torrey (13) celebrates a touchdown with his teammates during the game between the North Texas Mean Green and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on October 13, 2018 at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas. North Texas defeats So. Miss 30-7. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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North Texas and Utah State kick off the bowl schedule this Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl.

It is the most wonderful time of the year for college football fans. The 2018-2019 bowl season kicks off this Saturday with five games all leading up to the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Day. One of the first contests is the North Texas Mean Green taking on Utah State in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

Both of these teams finished in the top two of their conference divisions. North Texas finished 9-3 with a 5-3 mark in Conference-USA play. Head coach Seth Littrell has now led the Mean Green to a bowl game every year since arriving in 2016. Matt Wells has led the Aggies to a bowl game in back-to-back seasons and their second 10-win season during his tenure. However, Wells will not coach in this game due to taking the head coaching position at Texas Tech. Associate head coach Frank Maile will take over for the bowl game.

After coming off an appearance in the C-USA Championship Game in 2017, most projected North Texas to be better this year and so far they have lived up to expectations. After winning their first four, including a huge road win against Arkansas, they lost their first game to Louisiana Tech before winning five of their last seven. The Mean Green just missed another shot at the conference championship because UAB had 10 wins and had beaten them during the season.

Quarterback Mason Fine is one of the best among Group of Five passers. The junior has thrown for 3,734 yards and 27 touchdowns to just five interceptions. His biggest weapon is receiver Rico Bussey Jr. who has 1,017 yards 12 touchdowns so far. North Texas has also gotten good production from their running game this year thanks to sophomore back DeAndre Torrey. Torrey has 161 carries for 942 yards and 14 touchdowns. North Texas’ offense is one of the biggest kept secrets in the country.

Utah State finished 6-6 last season and lost the Arizona Bowl to New Mexico State. As the Aggies have done before under coach Wells, they made adjustments and have come back stronger this season. After losing to No. 11 Michigan State in week one, Utah State did not lose again until the last week of the regular season against No. 23 Boise State. They sit at 10-2 and 7-1 in Mountain West play heading into the bowl game.

Guided by offensive coordinator David Yost, who left for Texas Tech along with Wells, quarterback Jordan Love has put up almost identical numbers to his counterpart in this matchup. Love has passed for 3,208 yards and 28 touchdowns to just five picks. Utah State’s most productive receiver this year has been Ron’quavion Tarver with 676 yards and seven touchdowns. The Aggies also rely on running back Darwin Thompson, who is just 49 yards away from a 1,000-yard season. He has 14 scores on the season.

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This game will be nationally televised on ESPN and can be streamed on Watch ESPN.

How to watch and bet North Texas-Utah State

Date: Saturday, Dec. 15
Start time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Stadium: Dreamstyle Stadium
Spread: North Texas -8
TV info: ESPN
Stream: Watch ESPN

Prediction: North Texas wins but does not cover the spread.

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