The college football bowl season will begin Saturday when (7-5) Arizona and (7-5) Nevada meet in the 2012 Gildan New Mexico Bowl.
The 2012 edition of the New Mexico Bowl should feature plenty of offense, as Nevada and Arizona rank near the top of the country in yards per game. Arizona is seventh in the country, averaging 521.8 yards per game while Nevada is 11th at 502.8 yards per game. Both teams rank among the leaders in points per game as well. The teams combined to average 74.3 points per game this season.
The game also features two of the best running backs in the country. Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey led all FBS rushers with 1,757 rushing yards, while Nevada's Stefphon Jefferson was second behind Carey with 1,703 rushing yards. Carey caught fire at the end of the season, rushing for 742 yards over Arizona's final three games. Jefferson had big games as well, but was consistent. He rushed for at least 90 yards in 11 of Nevada's 12 games.
Arizona closed the season by winning four of its final six games. Nevada, on the other hand, struggled down the stretch winning just one of its final five games. Saturday's game will be the fourth meeting between the teams, but the first since 1941.
Game date and time
December 15, 1 p.m. ET
Location
University Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Spread
Arizona opened as an 8-point favorite.
TV schedule
ESPN
Watch online
WatchESPN
Radio schedule
Arizona - KCUB 1290 in Tucson
Nevada - ESPN 630 in Reno
Last year’s game
Temple knocked off Wyoming, 37-15, in the 2011 New Mexico Bowl.
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