2010 New Mexico Lobos: College Football Picks and 2011 BCS Predictions

The New Mexico Lobos imploded last year without the man that had turned around their program and made it into an annual bowl contender in college football betting odds. Rocky Long’s retirement after the 2008 season was not considered at the time to be a big problem as Mike Locksley was expected to keep the engine humming and update what was considered a stale program that went 4-8 straight up in Long’s final season. Unfortunately the Lobos finished last year 1-11 straight up and 6-6 in college football picks against the spread and have had plenty of negative publicity with off field issues involving Locksley and his coaching staff. Online sportsbooks have the 2010 New Mexico Lobos a 100-1 play-the-field longshot in 2011 BCS predictions to win the national championship.

With just 5 starters returning on offense and 6 on defense and with less of Long’s players left over things may get a lot worse before they get better. Locksley is a Ron Zook disciple known for being an outstanding recruiter, much like his mentor. He drastically opened up the offense and changed the defensive schemes that Long had used so successfully and it was a disaster. New Mexico averaged just 16-points per game in college football odds on offense and a whopping 36-points per game against on defense. The Lobos will likely be starting a freshman quarterback this year with their spread attack coordinated by Darrell Dickey.

Among the Lobos bad losses in college football picks last year were ones against weaklings such as New Mexico State, UNLV and San Diego State. New Mexico was blown out by top Mountain West Conference teams TCU and Utah. Rocky Long was criticized for running a “boring” offense. His fundamental approach may not have been entertaining but the stretch of 7 bowl games in 8 years was highly appreciated and may be even more so as time goes on. It looks like another long year at New Mexico.