Bowling Green vs. New Mexico State: Quick Lane Bowl preview, prediction, pick for 12/26

Yardbarker Quick Pick

For the just fifth time in the history of New Mexico State football, and second since 1960, the Aggies, guided by former Minnesota coach Jerry Kill, are going bowling. The Aggies have wins over Hawaii and Liberty. Meanwhile, Bowling Green is making its first bowl trip since 2015. Quarterback Matt McDonald has thrown for 2,639 yards with 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while Karl Brooks ranks among the national leaders with 10 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. — Jeff Mezydlo, Yardbarker

Prediction: Bowling Green (-3 1/2)

"I thought that was pretty special and I just want to end it with a win and bring a bowl game victory back to Bowling Green."

The Falcons (6-6) are in their first bowl game since losing 58-27 to Georgia Southern in the 2015 GoDaddy.com Bowl when they face New Mexico State (6-6), which won five of its last six games.

McDonald has thrown for 2,639 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season, his second as Bowling Green's full-time starter. The last contest wasn't good as McDonald was intercepted three times during a 38-14 road loss against Ohio.

McDonald spent two seasons at Boston College and transferred to Bowling Green after the 2018 season. He sat out 2019 to meet transfer regulations and started five games in 2020 and the bowl game start will be his 29th for the Falcons.

"He got his brains beat in here for two years and was able to overcome and get out of the bad habits that that creates whenever you're not around a good team," Falcons coach Scot Loeffler said. "Matt's very important. I don't want to see him go, but it's time."

New Mexico State has a hot quarterback in Diego Pavia, who passed for seven touchdowns and rushed for four over the past two games -- routs of 49-14 over Liberty and 65-3 over FCS Valparaiso.

OddsChecker prediction, pick, odds

The Bowling Green Falcons vs. the New Mexico State Aggies will clash from the Motor City for the Quick Lane Bowl today.  OddsChecker's Matt McCuen breaks down the game and shares his pick.

Pavia sustained a hamstring injury against Valpo.

"He's about 90 percent -- he will be ready to play unless he has a setback," Aggies coach Jerry Kill said. "We are going to be really careful with him and everything."

Gavin Frakes is receiving extra practice repetitions, though Pavia said he expects to play in the program's first bowl game since beating Utah State 26-20 in the 2017 Arizona Bowl.

"It's really just working on the neck up and all of the mental stuff that we are getting prepared for," Pavia told reporters. "... We are going to develop a great game plan."

New Mexico State's defense is led by linebacker Chris Ojoh (101 tackles), while Bowling Green features defensive end Karl Brooks, who is tied for seventh in the nation with 10 total sacks.