ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — June 1 is here, and that means barbecues, summer, and football predictions. The first one sounds good to The University of New Mexico as The Sporting News issued its 2016 bowl predictions, and the Lobos are predicted to make it to a second straight Bowl game.
For the second straight year, there will be 41 bowl games and 80 teams qualifying for those games (38 Bowl games, two national semifinals and the national championship game.
Last year in 2015, the Lobos made it back to a bowl for the first time since 2007, playing in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl, where UNM picked up a tough draw with Arizona, dropping a 45-37 decision. According to The Sporting News, the Lobos are slated to again hit a Bowl game, but a little further north. The magazine predicts UNM will be slotted to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, taking on the Toledo Rockets. The complete bowl predictions are located here.
UNM is one of six Mountain West teams predicted for a bowl berth, along with fellow division foes Boise State, Air Force and Colorado State, plus San Diego State and Nevada.
New Mexico last went to bowls in back-to-back years in 2006 and 2007, playing in the first two New Mexico Bowls. That ended a span of five bowl games in six years for UNM. This year the Lobos return 17 starters from a 7-6 team that was one win away from a Mountain Division title and a berth in the Mountain West championship game. Among the 17 returners are 10 on UNM defense, which was the fourth-most improved defense in the nation last season. Not counted among the 17 returning starters are a pair of starters from 2014 in offensive lineman Garrett Adcock, who missed most of last season with an injury, and former quarterback Cole Gautsche, who redshirted and has transitioned to tight end.
Season tickets for the 2016 season are on sale now for as low as $96 for adults and $59 for youth. To purchase season tickets, fans can log onto www.unmtickets.com, call 925-LOBO, or visit the Lobo Ticket Office at WisePies Arena directly. For more pricing and ticket information, please visit the Lobo Football Ticket Central Page here.
Sporting News Predicts Another Bowl Berth for UNM
