New Mexico St Aggies 2016 NCAA Football Preview
NEW MEXICO ST AGGIES
Sun Belt Conference
2015 Record – 3-9
ATS – 5-6-1
2016 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating Rank
Conference #10
2015 Recap
It was another long season in Las Cruces. The Aggies started off in gruesome fashion losing their first 7 games but bounced back nicely to take three of the last five contests. HC Doug Martin has a 7-29 record in his three seasons at New Mexico St.
2016 Preview
OFFENSE
The passing game worked well last season as New Mexico St ranked 3rd in the Sun Belt in passing offense. Injuries were a problem with the unit last year but they still soldiered onward. That bodes well for this season as two QBs with experience return. Newcomer Tyler Matthews is also in the competition. Nothing has been decided as of yet but we would guess that Tyler Rogers gets the call to start in week one. Two of the top three receivers from last season’s unit have departed but the Aggies have always managed to find a passing game since HC Martin arrived.
JUGGERNAUT ALERT – Larry Rose just might be the most underrated and/or underappreciated RB in college football. Rose followed up his 1,100-yard freshman season with a 1,600 yard sophomore campaign in which he rushed for 14 TDs and averaged 6.9 (!) yards a carry. In his spare time he also hauled in 30 receptions. Rose should have another dominating season in 2016, but MEGALOCKS SUN BELT MEDICAL INSIDERS note that Rose had sports hernia surgery in August and he may miss a game or two to start the season. Fans are hoping he returns for the September 10th tilt against New Mexico.
DEFENSE
The Aggies were one of the worst defenses in the FBS once again giving up 45 points and 522 yards per game in 2015. New DC Frank Spaziani will try and impart some of his Boston College magic upon this unit. The defense is down to six returning starters as DT Jacob Banegas is no longer with the team. Leading tackler Derek Ibekwe returns for his junior campaign but may miss some early action due to injury.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Parker Davidson was just 10/17 on FGs last season including just 3/8 from 40+ yards. They need to work in a new punter this season in freshman Payton Theisler. The kickoff return game was brutal in 2015. This group needs to do better.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 3.5
MEGALOCKS says:
There is definitely enough talent on this roster to win more than three games. That is not a ringing endorsement, but keep in mind, the last time the Aggies made a bowl game was the 1960 Sun Bowl. We don’t think Verne Lundquist called that game but will have to check on it.
Overall, we give the AGGIES a 3.5 ATS Value Rating (Below Average) this season. The offense should be fine. Especially when Larry Rose is at 100%. The defense still has us seriously concerned. Doug Martin has a 12-21-2 ATS record in Las Cruces, and while we will be cheering for the Aggies to pick up as many wins as possible, it is hard to have any confidence in this team ATS right now.
Want more New Mexico St Football ?
Website
http://nmstatesports.com/index.aspx?path=football
Forum
http://www.scout.com/college/new-mexico-state/forums/2377-sports-trough
News
http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/new-mexico-st-aggies
http://bleacherreport.com/new-mexico-state-football
http://www.lcsun-news.com/sports/nmsu-sports/
https://twitter.com/NMStateFootball
https://twitter.com/JPGroves @JPGroves Jason Groves