A long trip to Honolulu awaits New Mexico (4-1, 1-0 Mountain West). Hawai'i (1-5, 0-3) hosts at 10:30 on FS1.
New Mexico insider Paloma Begaye-Ortiz pilots hot-air balloons and says the Lobos are floating high after two weeks of rest. Toa Fa'avae averages over 17 yards a completion, and Scottre Humphrey has six rushing touchdowns. ESPN ranks the Lobo defense seventh in the country. Hawai'i insider Kainoa Akana-Baird loves time-zone math. He's believing in Micah Alejado, who has 1,613 passing yards. Kainoa Carvalho is his top receiver.
New Mexico starting quarterback Jack Layne is out for the season, and linebacker Jaxton Eck is out with a shoulder injury. Hawai'i lost 30-12 at Arizona State. DeVon Rice leads Hawai'i's ground game. Gusts in the low 30s in Honolulu could affect passing, which suits a Lobo team that can run and defend.
Our call: New Mexico 29, Hawai'i 12.