Last Updated on November 10, 2009 1:24 pm by drew
BYU-New Mexico
Albuquerque,
As the senior quarterback nears a personal milestone, he’ll look to lead the visiting 22nd-ranked Cougars to a fifth straight victory over winless New Mexico and troubled coach Mike Locksley on Saturday in a Mountain West Conference matchup.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made BYU -27 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Saturday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 86% of bets for this game have been placed on BYU -27 (View College Football bet percentages).
Hall was 20 of 22 for 312 yards and four touchdowns in BYU’s 52-0 rout of
Hall has three regular season contests and a bowl game left to try and pass Detmer – winner of 29 games from 1988-91, but he seems more focused on helping the Cougars finish strong. After visiting
"I plan on winning the next three,” Hall said. "Really it’s an honor for me to be able to play three years here and to have a chance to be the all-time leader in wins.”
Hall has completed 65.9 percent of his passes while throwing for 10,348 yards and 82 touchdowns with 37 interceptions in 35 career games. This season, he ranks first in the MWC in passing yards (2,543), yards per game (282.6), and is tied for first with 21 touchdowns.
"A lot (of his efficiency) comes from his preparation," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, who’s team is third in the conference, one game behind co-leaders TCU and
Hall leads a BYU offense that averages 36.6 points per contest, is seventh in the nation in passing (293.6 yards per game) and tied for eighth in total offense (458.6).
Hall and the Cougars aren’t expected to have too much trouble against
The Lobos are last in the conference in both scoring offense (15.3 points per game) and defense (36.6).
"We have very little margin for error,” said Locksley, who last month served a 10-day suspension after being accused of throwing a punch at receivers coach J.B. Gerald on Sept. 20.
Though their last four losses to BYU have been decided by a combined 17 points, the Lobos have dropped five in a row at home to the Cougars dating to a 38-28 win Nov. 15, 1997. BYU is trying to improve to 6-0 on the road for the first time since 2001.
Hall has thrown for 509 yards and five touchdowns in two games against
The Cougars should have running back Harvey Unga available after he left last week’s contest with a leg injury. Unga, averaging a league-leading 97.8 yards per game, rushed 22 times for 95 yards against the Lobos last season.
With three games left,
"We have a lot of pride and I know we can play,” Locksley said. "Right now the big thing for us is to finish this the right way.”
Locksley’s incident has added to the misery of his first season in
"Coach Locksley’s behavior surrounding an argument with a member of his staff was wrong, plain and simple,” school president David Schmidly said. "He has painted this university, the athletic department, Lobo football and himself in an extremely poor light.”
Posted: 11/10/09 1:24PM ET