Utah @ New Mexico preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 7, 2009 ) New Mexico 14, Utah 45

Utah is not sure of its starting quarterback heading into its first road game of the season. It likely won't matter.

After rolling up a pair of easy wins with different starting quarterbacks, the 14th-ranked Utes hit the road for the first time this season to take on the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday.

The Utes (2-0) opened the season with a 27-24 overtime victory over Pittsburgh on Sept. 2. That is when sophomore quarterback Jordan Wynn sprained his right thumb and sat out Utah's 38-10 victory over UNLV on Saturday.

Terrance Cain got the start against the Rebels and completed 13-of-20 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Cain did not throw an interception and will likely get the start again if Wynn is unable to go. With the win over UNLV, Cain improved to 8-1 as a starter at Utah.

If he can help it, Wynn will do his best to play against New Mexico, especially when you consider the success he had against the Lobos last year.

Utah rolled to a 45-14 victory over New Mexico last season in the first start of Wynn's career. It turned out to be the best debut by a true freshman quarterback in the program's history as Wynn threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns.

New Mexico (0-2) does not appear to have the defense to stop Utah regardless of who the Utes have at quarterback. The Lobos have been outscored 124-17 in losses to No. 6 Oregon and Texas Tech.

The Lobos have played two good teams to open their season, but they have also been their own worst enemy. They committed five turnovers in a 72-0 loss to Oregon in their season opener and then committed 16 penalties - one short of the school record - in a 52-17 home loss to Texas Tech last week.

Another troubling theme for the Lobos thus far has been their inability to run the ball. New Mexico is averaging just 61 yards rushing per game. That number likely won't get better this week against a Utah defense that is allowing 92 per game and has already limited star Pittsburgh running back Dion Lewis to a career-low 75 yards.

Utah leads the series with New Mexico, 32-17-2 but the Utes are just 13-12-1 in Albuquerque. The Utes have won three straight in the series and two of the last three in Albuquerque. Utah is 3-2 against New Mexico when nationally ranked and the Lobos' last win in the series came in 2006, 34-31.