New Mexico Lobos vs. Auburn Tigers Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 14th 2024

Preview and Prediction

Auburn is anticipating that simplifying their game plan will result in fewer turnovers.

The Tigers (1-1), who had five giveaways in a 21-14 defeat at home against Cal last week, are set to host New Mexico on Saturday night.

"Our coaching staff believes that we may have tried to do too much last week," stated Auburn coach Hugh Freeze. "Moving forward, we will be reducing the size of our playbook so that we can accurately assess whether or not this will continue to be an issue for us.

"We probably had too much on our plate, but we also missed some very basic things that would have kept us ahead of the chains and out of those third-and-long situations that we just can't afford to be in."

Payton Thorne threw four interceptions, but Freeze stated that he is not yet ready to make a change at quarterback. However, he did mention that backup Hank Brown will receive more practice reps this week.

"We are not a talented enough team to play poorly and still come out with a win," Freeze emphasized. "The football season is a long one and there were many good teams that struggled last week, just like we did. One game does not define a season. I expect us to respond the way we should."

The Lobos (0-2) are coming off an unusually early bye week after suffering losses in August to Montana State (35-31) and then-No. 21 Arizona (61-39).

First-year coach Bronco Mendenhall expressed surprise at his team's inconsistency in giving up big plays in their first two games.

"I did not expect that many big plays to happen so frequently," Mendenhall admitted. "I thought we were past that."

Mendenhall also acknowledged that the Lobos, who have not won more than four games in a season since 2016, do not have favorable matchups against Auburn as he works to rebuild the program.

"Our team is hungry, eager, hopeful, desperate, diligent, and resilient," Mendenhall said. "That part has been really enjoyable. I have really liked that aspect of it."

Devon Dampier leads the Lobos in both passing (432 yards) and rushing (164 yards) and has accounted for seven touchdowns.

PREDICTION

New Mexico Lobos

Auburn Tigers

New Mexico Lobos vs. Auburn Tigers Recap SEP 14TH 2024

Hank Brown threw four touchdown passes and Jarquez Hunter rushed for 152 yards and scored two touchdowns as host Auburn held off New Mexico for a 45-19 nonconference victory on Saturday night.

Brown replaced Payton Thorne, who threw four interceptions in a loss to Cal last week, as the Tigers' starting quarterback and completed 17 of 25 passes for 235 yards. Hunter caught one of Brown's TD passes and rushed for another score for the Tigers (2-1).

Devon Dampier completed 22 of 44 passes for 291 yards and a touchdown to lead the Lobos (0-3). Dampier was picked off twice.

Auburn received the second-half kickoff and drove to Brown's 3-yard touchdown pass to Micah Riley that gave the Tigers a 24-13 lead.

Brown's 14-yard scoring pass to Hunter increased the lead to 31-13 by the end of the third quarter.

Dampier threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Medford to pull the Lobos within 31-19 early in the fourth. Four plays later, Brown threw a 26-yard TD to Rivaldo Fairweather to increase the Auburn lead to 38-19.

New Mexico missed a scoring opportunity later in the fourth after Auburn muffed a punt and the Lobos gained possession at the Tigers 32, as the visitors ended up turning the ball over on downs.

Auburn's Damari Alston soon ran 22 yards for a touchdown that completed the scoring with 5:51 remaining.

On the first possession of the game, New Mexico drove to Luke Drzewiecki's 33-yard field goal, and Auburn answered on the ensuing drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Camden Brown for a 7-3 lead.

NaQuari Rogers' 3-yard scoring run gave the Lobos the lead before Hunter's 2-yard touchdown run gave Auburn a 14-10 edge at the end of the first quarter.

Towns McGough kicked a 24-yard field goal for the Tigers, but Drzewiecki's 21-yard field goal trimmed Auburn's lead to 17-13.

Drzewiecki missed a 37-yard field-goal attempt and Auburn blew a scoring opportunity when it lost a fumble at the Lobos 15, keeping the score at 17-13 at halftime.