Predicting Saturday’s Aggies vs. Nevada game

Here we go...Our weekly prediction.

I think the No. 1 key to this game is going to be the health of NMSU quarterback Matt Christian. He will start under center and his ability to run the option has been a BIG key in NMSU’s success in recent weeks. Surely, Christian will have to be careful and guard against the big hit. It could very well take away from part of NMSU’s attack.

Is Nevada what they were last year? No. But they’re still a good team and they run the pistol with running back Mike Ball and freshman quarterback Cody Fajardo. Both look like good players. The Aggies will see a heavy dosage of the ground game on Saturday.

NMSU will have to play mistake-free in this one. Christian cannot get hurt and needs to play close to 100 percent. The Aggies will have to WIN the special teams battle — something that hasn’t happened this year — can’t turn to ball over and can’t commit dumb penalties.

A key stat: Nevada is minus-five in turnover margin this year while the Aggies are plus-four.

One of the goals coming into the year was for the Aggies play in closer games and so far they have done that. Still, this 15-point spread in favor of Nevada feels about right.

My prediction: Nevada 40, NMSU 27

NMSU Gameday
Who: Nevada (4-3, 2-0) vs. NMSU (3-4, 1-2)
What: WAC college football game, NMSU homecoming
Where: Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces
When: Saturday, 6 p.m.
Spread: NMSU +15
Radio: KGRT-FM 104; Vista 98.7 (Spanish)