Utah Utes football game day

UTAH (8-0, 4-0) at New Mexico (4-5, 2-3)

Today, 7:30 p.m. — University Stadium (40,094) — Natural grass — Albuquerque, N.M. Partly cloudy. High near 70 degrees

TV: The mtn. — Radio: 700AM — Live game blog: deseretnews.com/blogs

THE STAKES

For Utah ... The Utes are still pursuing a berth in the financially lucrative Bowl Championship Series. An outright Mountain West Conference title is also in the mix. The stakes, simply put, are high.

For New Mexico ... The Lobos still have bowl hopes. Another loss, however, would put them in a must-win situation in season-ending games against MWC foes UNLV and Colorado State on the road.

THE TRENDS

For Utah ... Utah has won nine consecutive games dating back to last year's 35-32 Poinsettia Bowl triumph over Navy in San Diego.

For New Mexico ... New Mexico has won four of the past six meetings with Utah, including the last one in Albuquerque (34-31 in 2006).

THE EDGE

Utah will win if ... the Utes can stay focused on the Lobos and not look ahead to next week's showdown with TCU. Utah is 4-0 in MWC play, thus far, outscoring opponents by a 161-67 margin.

New Mexico will win if ... the Lobos can put the clamps on Utah's offense. New Mexico's defense is capable of making things difficult. On offense, the Lobos need to run the ball effectively.

INJURY REPORT

Defensive tackle Kenape Eliapo, who has been sidelined since breaking his foot in the season-opener at Michigan, is expected to play.

PLAYER TO WATCH

RODNEY FERGUSON, running back: Veteran rusher leads the Mountain West Conference with 108.1 yards per game on the ground.

KEY MATCHUP

UTAH'S OFFENSE VS. NEW MEXICO'S DEFENSE: The Utes enter the game averaging a league-leading 39 points per game. New Mexico, meanwhile, has given up just 20 points over its past four games.

NEXT UP

TCU, Thursday, 6 p.m., Rice-Eccles Stadium. The nationally ranked Horned Frogs will be greeted by a "blackout" in Salt Lake City.