Western Illinois Leathernecks vs New Mexico State Aggies 9/2/2023 Picks, Forecast and Predictions

Western Illinois Leathernecks vs New Mexico State Aggies 9/2/2023 – The college football season is in full swing, and the New Mexico State Aggies are gearing up to face the Western Illinois Leathernecks in a week 1 matchup on their home turf. The anticipation is building as both teams look to make their mark early in the season. Western Illinois had a rough go of it in the previous year, finishing with a winless record of 0-11. It was a challenging season for the Leathernecks, and they are hungry for redemption in 2023. On the other side of the field, the New Mexico State Aggies are looking to rebound from a 41-30 loss to UMass in week zero.

Although they racked up 470 yards and scored 30 points in the game, turnovers cost them dearly. Defensively, they struggled, allowing 41 points, including a staggering 28 points in the fourth quarter, on 389 total yards. The football betting picks today are leaning towards the Aggies to secure a victory.

Team	SP/RL	TOTAL	ML
Leathernecks	TBD	TBD	TBD
Aggies	TBD	TBD	TBD

Welcome to El Paso. pic.twitter.com/IACrDPEgL3

— WIU Football (@WIUfootball) September 1, 2023

Myers Hendrickson vs Jerry Kill

In 2022, Western Illinois struggled mightily, averaging a mere 13.64 points per game and gaining 273.5 yards on average. Defensively, the Leathernecks faced a barrage of challenges, allowing almost 39 points per game and surrendering 463 yards per contest.

Quarterback Clay Bruno returns to lead the Western Illinois offense, having thrown for 1,344 yards and seven touchdowns on 112 completions last season. Ludovick Choquette is back in the running back position, having compiled 174 yards on 16 carries in the previous year. Jay Parker is expected to be the top target in the Leathernecks’ passing attack, as he was the leading receiver last season, amassing 149 yards and one touchdown.

Diego Pavia led the Aggies under center, completing 16 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Monte Watkins made an impact with 95 rushing yards and a touchdown on just two carries, while Star Thomas added 42 yards on eight carries. Jonathan Brady led the receiving corps with 48 yards on two receptions, and Trent Hudson chipped in 43 yards and two touchdowns on two grabs.

New Mexico State enters week one determined to perfect their details and secure their first win of the season. Facing Western Illinois – who struggled throughout last season – provides New Mexico State an ideal chance to build on last year’s momentum by dominating them from start to finish and opening up with a convincing victory on home turf.

2023 Season Opener Showdown Analysis

As previously discussed, the matchup between the New Mexico State Aggies and Western Illinois Leathernecks should prove an entertaining one. Each team hopes to find improvement and redemption during the 2023 season and this early-season clash should set a dramatic scene in New Mexico. Fans should look forward to an incredible contest between these two squads on the football pitch. Let’s examine further both teams’ statistics, highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses.

Western Illinois Leathernecks’ offensive difficulties were made clear during their previous season, where they managed just 13.64 points per game on average and produced 273.5 yards per game overall – leaving room for improvement. Quarterback Clay Bruno returns as their leader on offense and recorded 1,344 passing yards and seven touchdowns, but also committed 13 interceptions, emphasizing the need for improved decision-making skills in 2023.

Ludovick Choquette was an impressive returnee in rushing, amassing 174 yards on just 16 attempts last season – showing his potential to boost Leatherneck’s ground game; unfortunately, however, an inconsistent rushing attack prevented that from being realized.

NCAA Latest Betting Odds: New Mexico State Aggies

Western Illinois faced major difficulties on defense in 2022, surrendering nearly 39 points per game while giving up an average of 463 yards per contest. Though they struggled, their leading tackler Juan DelaCruz recorded 88 total tackles to provide hope of an improved defense performance.

As for the New Mexico State Aggies’ offensive performance during week one, they excelled admirably by amassing 470 total yards and scoring 30 points. Quarterback Diego Pavia displayed great promise by throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns while their ground game led by Monte Watkins with 95 yards and one touchdown proved they could move the ball effectively on foot.

New Mexico State Aggies Betting Trends

New Mexico State are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Mexico State’s last 6 games.
New Mexico State are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games.
Aggies are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games at home.
New Mexico State is 2-10 SU in their last 12 games played in September.
New Mexico State are 0-11 SU in their last 11 games played in week 1.
The total has gone OVER in 5 of New Mexico State’s last 5 games played on a Saturday.

Western Illinois Leathernecks vs New Mexico State Aggies Betting Pick

The Aggies’ defense had difficulty, conceding 41 points overall and giving up 28 in the fourth quarter alone. For future success, tighter defense will be essential. Both teams have experienced struggles, yet both are eager to turn things around in 2023. Western Illinois looks for redemption after an unsuccessful season while New Mexico State Aggies look to strengthen both offensive capabilities and defense in an exciting contest where statistics will play an integral part in deciding who wins; football fans can look forward to an exhilarating contest that promises great plays on both sides of the ball. However, the football betting odds this week are predicting a win for the Aggies.

Score Prediction: New Mexico State Aggies 49, Western Illinois Leathernecks 0.