Arizona vs. New Mexico score predictions

On Saturday, the Arizona Wildcats (7-3) will take on the New Mexico Lobos (3-7) in The Pit for the first time since 1999.

It’s a longtime rivalry that started in 1913. Arizona leads the all-time series 84-42 and won last year’s matchup 77-46 in Tucson.

The Wildcats have won four straight, while the Lobos have lost three straight. How will Saturday’s game shake out in front of a rowdy pro-New Mexico crowd?

We made our predictions. Make sure to leave yours in the comment section below!

Ryan Kelapire — Arizona wins 85-69

New Mexico is a really bad team going through some odd stuff that Arizona should have no problem rolling over. In one sense, this is a good game for Arizona because it gets to experience another road environment without a huge threat of losing.

At the same time, if the Wildcats lose their composure and somehow do lose this game, it’s a really bad loss. But I don’t think that will happen.

Christopher Boan — Arizona wins 91-70

New Mexico is going to be a damn good team (in four years), but they’re an absolute garbage fire right now. I’m a softie for old-school rivalry games, so I’m thrilled these two former Border Conference and WAC rivals are playing each other, 18 years after Lute promised to never bring Arizona back to the Duke City.

I expect Arizona to cruise down the stretch and pull everyone of note from the floor, allowing the Lobos to pull within 25. It could get ugly though, given the tumultuous period New Mexico is going through right now, personnel-wise. Here’s hoping these two renew their pleasant unpleasantries going forward, cause UNM could be good in a few years.

Robby Leano — Arizona wins 95-67

New Mexico sucks this year. Arizona’s “Savage Life” is getting ready to heat up. Nuff said.

Alec Sills-Trausch — Arizona wins 77-59

The combination of Deandre Ayton and Allonzo Trier plus a tuned-in Rawle Alkins will prove to be too much for the Lobos. While Arizona has struggled to shoot from deep outside of Tucson, the Cats will focus on the interior and beat New Mexico with a classic inside-out approach.

Tony Capobianco — Arizona wins 95-70

This used to be a big game because New Mexico is one of three legit Mountain West basketball programs. But the Lobos are terrible now and are now no different than your run of the mill mid-major team. Even though the last two games were too close for comfort, Arizona is proving that as long as there’s no body of water in sight, the Wildcats can play like the top-five team they were originally expected to be.