Chile, chili at stake in football game between New Mexico State, Wyoming

LAS CRUCES — New Mexico State football will host Wyoming in its first game of the season Saturday.

If the Cowboys win, they’ll leave Aggie Memorial Stadium with more than bragging rights. They’ll be returning to Laramie with some of the state’s green chile and pistachios.

But if the Aggies quiet the Cowboys, Wyoming will be sending to New Mexico a box or two of their state’s hand-crafted chocolates and some Chugwater Chili.

The wager, announced Wednesday via Twitter, comes courtesy of the states’ attorneys general.

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas, whose son attends NMSU, initiated the friendly wager with a letter sent to Wyoming Attorney General Peter Michael on Monday.

“If by some miracle, Coach [Craig] Bohl and your Cowboys prevail, I will send you some of New Mexico’s finest green chile and pistachios. On the other hand, when Coach [Doug] Martin and our Aggies send your Cowboys packing, loss in hand, I will take whatever item of Wyoming pride you deem fit,” Balderas wrote.

Michael responded Tuesday with his own letter, writing, “… if by some miracle the Aggies prevail, you will be pleased, and I think delighted, to enjoy some of Wyoming’s finest handcrafted chocolates and Chugwater Chili. Yes, there is a town in Wyoming called Chugwater.”

The NMSU-Wyoming game starts at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2. Wyoming is favored by 3.5 points.

Balderas will be in attendance, said spokesman David Carl.