Sneaky New Mexico Lobos Get Huge Spread Against Air Force
by Tim Furious
When you scroll through the top ranked teams in the country, there’s definitely one school that jumps out at you. Don’t look now, but heading in to March Madness the pollsters have ranked New Mexico as eighth best team in the country. For those of you that have had your nose on the grindstone this college basketball betting season, you also know how profitable it can be to stand behind the Lobos.
New Mexico is the best team in the Mountain West, with a conference record of 14-2 SU. Only BYU is on their tails and New Mexico has made its case to be counted amongst the bigger name schools like Villanova, Syracuse and Kentucky. What you have to love about their chances as we gear up for the tournaments is that New Mexico has to battle for respect each and every game to justify why their in the top-10.
As the oddsmakers caught up with New Mexico, the Lobos took some hits against the betting spread. A 14-game winning streak not withstanding, the Lobos are just 2-3-1 ATS in their past 6 games. This season, they’ve been a marvelous bet and when they get mammoth, double-digit basketball spreads they’re an astounding 8-3 ATS.
Making the matchup with the lowly Air Force Falcons a cake walk to take the betting line is the fact that New Mexico is 10-3 ATS in their last 13 games head-to-head. In the past ten games, they’ve also gone a tidy 7-3 SU against Air Force.
Air Force Falcons (10-20) vs. New Mexico Lobos (28-3)
Thursday, March 11th --- Thomas & Mack Center --- 3:00pm EST
NCAAB Betting Line: New Mexico -18 (118)
Recent struggles against the handicap are more an indication that New Mexico is being taken far more seriously by the oddsmakers and line setters than from the onset of the season. Now that New Mexico has their attention, it’ll be a little more difficult to sneak past them, but tonight’s game against Air Force shouldn’t deter you.
Air Force had a tight, 56-59 loss to the Lobos with a 21-point line in favor of New Mexico which was playing at home. What makes the Falcons a frustrating team to watch is the fact that they drag games along at a snail’s pace. It’s a deliberate strategy as they seize control of games and plod them along while the shot clock just ticks away. The tight game against New Mexico was more so an indication that the Lobos were taking Air Force lightly.
They won’t make that same mistake again. New Mexico is a great bet to take in the Mountain West, a conference they have dominated and will continue to reign supreme to the tournament’s end. You’ve been warned. Get on board.
Furious Free Pick: New Mexico -18 (UNDER)
