New Mexico Bowl Capsule
New Mexico Bowl
By The Associated Press
Fresno State (8-4) vs. Wyoming (6-6), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Fresno State by 11.
Series Record: Tied 3-3.
Last meeting: 1997, Fresno State 24-7.
What’s at Stake
Fresno State is playing in the New Mexico Bowl for the second straight year and would would like to erase memories of a 40-35 loss to Colorado State last year in which the Bulldogs were outscored 20-7 in the fourth quarter. Wyoming plays its first bowl game since beating UCLA 24-21 in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl.
Key Matchup
Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews versus Wyoming LB Brian Hendricks. Mathews led the nation in rushing average, going for 151.3 yards per game. Hendricks led the Cowboys with 11 tackles per game, and his 23 tackles at Air Force marked the best single-game effort in the nation this season.
Players to Watch
Fresno State: Mathews, who gives the Bulldogs a big-play threat on every snap. He led the nation with seven runs of at least 50 yards, including TD bursts of 69, 68 and 60 yards in a loss to Boise State. “He’s the horse we ride,” coach Pat Hill said.
Wyoming: QB Austyn Carta-Samuels. Mountain West freshman of the year took over in Week 4, winning three straight games. He led fourth-quarter comeback wins over UNLV, Florida Atlantic, San Diego State and a victory at rival Colorado State that sealed the bowl trip.
Facts & Figures
Wyoming’s Dave Christensen, formerly offensive coordinator at Missouri, is the second Cowboys coach to reach a bowl game in his first season. Paul Roach took Wyoming to the 1987 Holiday Bowl. … Hill is coming off his 100th victory as Fresno State coach and has agreed to a contract extension. Details will be released after Jan. 1. … Bulldogs are playing their earliest bowl date since Dec. 18, 1999, a 17-16 loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl… All six previous meetings between Wyoming and Fresno State came when the teams played in the WAC from 1992-97, with each winning three times at home.
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