Tennessee opens as huge Homecoming favorite against New Mexico State

Tennessee Football opened as a 38.5-point home favorite for Saturday’s Homecoming game against New Mexico State at Neyland Stadium, according to odds released Sunday afternoon by BetMGM. The total is set at 61.5.

The Vols are 4-5 against the spread this season, covering a 13.5-point spread against Syracuse, a 39.5-point spread against ETSU, as a 3.5-point underdog against Georgia and as an 8.5-point favorite at Kentucky.

Tennessee has failed to cover a 38.5-point spread against UAB, a 7.5-point spread at Mississippi State, a 10.5-point spread against Arkansas, an 8.5-point spread at Alabama and a 3.5-point spread against Oklahoma.

The over has hit in seven of nine games this season.

Kickoff Time: Tennessee vs. New Mexico State, Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Tennessee, coming off the 33-27 home loss to Oklahoma before the bye week, beat Syracuse 45-26 in Week 1 in Atlanta, beat ETSU 72-17 in Week 2, lost 44-41 in overtime against Georgia in Week 3 and beat UAB 56-24 in Week 4. The Vols then won 41-34 in overtime at Mississippi State three, beat Arkansas 34-31 at home, lost 37-20 at Alabama and won 56-34 at Kentucky.

After hosting New Mexico State, Tennessee closes the regular-season schedule with a road game at Florida on November 22 and Senior Day against Vanderbilt on November 29.

New Mexico State is 4-5 against the spread this season, with the under hitting six times in nine games. 

The Aggies were an 11.5-point home underdog against Kennesaw State on Saturday and haven’t been favored since being a 19.5-point favorite against Bryant in Week 1.

New Mexico State has lost four straight, six of seven

New Mexico State started the season 2-0, with a 19-3 win over Bryant and a 21-14 win over Tulsa, but have lost four straight and six of seven since then. 

The Aggies los 35-16 at Western Kentucky two weeks ago and 24-17 in overtime against Missouri State at home on October 22. They lost 30-27 at Liberty, 38-20 at New Mexico and 49-14 at Louisiana Tech.

The only win since Week 2 was at Sam Houston, 37-10, on October 2.

New Mexico State covered against Tulsa (+3.5), against Sam Houston (+1.5) and at Liberty (+11.5). The Aggies failed to cover at Western Kentucky (+7.5), vs. Missouri State (+2.5), at New Mexico (+16.5) and at Louisiana Tech (+10).

New Mexico State coach Tony Sanchez is 26-55 as a head coach, including 6-15 in his second season with the Aggies. He went 20-40 five seasons at UNLV, from 2015-19, and went 85-5 in six seasons at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, winning six Nevada 4A state championships.