LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Interstat) — New Mexico and New Mexico State will meet Saturday in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Aggie Memorial Stadium, with the Lobos serving as the visiting team and the Aggies as the home team. The in-state matchup is set for Las Cruces, where New Mexico State will try to use its home field to even its record and New Mexico will aim to build on a 2-1 start.

New Mexico enters at 2-1. The Lobos opened the season with a 38-7 win over Central Michigan and followed with a 70-7 rout of Mercyhurst before falling 14-6 at Oklahoma in their most recent game. Quarterback Toa Fa’avae is a player to watch. In the loss to Oklahoma, Fa’avae completed 4 of 10 passes for 79 yards and rushed 13 times for 17 yards. Luke Moga added 37 passing yards, and James Laubstein had one carry for 3 yards. New Mexico has scored at least 38 points in each of its two wins and has allowed 14 points or fewer in all three games.

New Mexico State is 1-2. The Aggies beat Mercyhurst 51-14 after opening with a 34-17 loss at Florida State, then dropped a 29-19 decision at Hawaii in their most recent game. Trey Hedden, James Jones and TJ Washington Jr. were among the most productive players for New Mexico State in that contest. The Aggies have scored 51 points in their lone win, a season high. Both teams have faced Mercyhurst this season, with New Mexico winning 70-7 and New Mexico State winning 51-14.

The forecast at game time calls for 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Aggie Memorial Stadium will host the game, with New Mexico looking to build momentum behind Fa’avae and its offense. New Mexico State returns home after playing at Hawaii in its most recent game.

New Mexico’s upcoming schedule includes home games against UTEP, North Dakota State, UNLV and Air Force, along with road matchups at Hawaii, San Jose State, Nevada and Wyoming. New Mexico State is set to host Western Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Liberty and Delaware and will visit Florida International, Sam Houston, Missouri State and Middle Tennessee.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of New Mexico State 35, New Mexico 32. Interstat’s ELO system projects New Mexico with an 82.7 percent probability to win. New Mexico State has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -11.5. The over/under for this game is 48.5.