Coming off a 25-10 win over the UNLV Rebels in Las Vegas, the Horned Frogs will travel to Albuquerque, N.M., to take on the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday.Head coach Gary Patterson said Tuesday at the weekly Coaches’ Luncheon, that the Horned Frogs are preparing heavily to play the Lobos.

“There is a lot more preparation that goes in for us,” Patterson said. “You have to prepare, especially when you play in somebody else’s house, to not give up the easy touchdown.”

Patterson said the Lobos’ defense is strong, fast and will be hard to penetrate – especially when the Frogs turn to their rushing attack.

“They are a fast defense, and they are always good against the run,” Patterson said. “Especially at home, they feed off the intensity of the crowd, and I read that this week they have already sold over 26,000 tickets.”

Patterson said even though the Lobos crowd will be a big one, the Frogs will be ready and willing to take them on in the intense environment.

“Our kids will like the big crowd,” Patterson said. “We like playing in that kind of environment. It makes for a great game.”

The Saturday game will be Patterson’s first return to the University of New Mexico since he was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach there.

“I have a lot of good friends there,” Patterson said. “It will be my first time back there since ’97, and there are several people there that have stayed in touch with me throughout the years.”

Patterson said the Lobos are much like the Frogs in that they play much better at home, and they are always going to put up a fight.

“You always know you are in a fight when you play New Mexico,” Patterson said. “I don’t care. Win, lose or draw, you always know you are in a fight.