Texas Longhorns vs. UTEP Miners Preview and Pick

Texas 1-0 overall (0-0 in Big 12) -26.5, 57.5 O/U at UTEP 0-1 overall (0-0 in C-USA) +26.5 O/U 57.5 Saturday September 6 El Paso, Texas, Sun Bowl (51,500) 9:15 EST
by Wilson of Predictem.com

David meats Goliath as Texas visits UTP in which the current line is Texas -26.5 which is no surprise as the Longhorns are ranked number 11 in the country.

UTEP head coach Mike Price has been coaching for more than 26 years and he has gone up against plenty of high caliber football programs. This Saturday will be another challenging day for the Miners. Price, who coached at Washington State, knows all to well what its like to go head to head with giants (USC, Oregon, UCLA) and win, but this game may be finished before it starts as the Longhorns are extremely physical and athletic in every position. UTEP is simply are over matched.

The Miners will need to overcome their season opening loss at Buffalo 42-17. The Bulls scored 28 of the games final 31 points. Buffalo QB Drew Willy threw 10-16 passes for 221 yards and four TDs.

The Miners also allowed over 200 hundred yards rushing, plus another 154 yards receiving alone by Bulls receiver Naaman Roosevelt. A poor defensive showing coupled with a weak offensive display will equal even more disaster this week for the Miners as Texas will show no mercy especially to an in-state rival.

University of Texas QB Colt McCoy absolutely dismantled Florida Atlantic by passing for three touchdowns, and running for one more as the Longhorns won easily 52-10. McCoy left early in the fourth after going 24 of 29 with 222 yards. McCoy even accumulated 103 yards rushing on 12 carries.


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Texas coach Mack Brown was very impressed with Colts play and said Colt played as good of a game as Ive seen tonight.

However, the Texas defense is suspect especially in the secondary where they start two freshmen at safety. Earl Thomas, one of the freshmen at safety was beat time after time for big gains and a touchdown. Thomas and company did manage to settle down and make some big plays including an interception, tipped pass, and a blocked punt that set up another score.

Texas has put up 50 points or more in their last five of six opening contest. Coach Brown was quoted after the game by saying, “We played a near perfect game.”

The last time these two teams met was 1933 with the Longhorns getting the win 22-6, and before that they played in 1930, where Texas shut the Miners out 28-0; both of those games were played in Austin.

UTEP is 55-29-4 in home openers, including 3-1 under the direction of Mike Price. Texas has never been beaten by UTEP. The Miners are just 3-43 against AP top 25 opponents all-time. They are 2-14 at home, and the their last win over an AP top 25 team was in 1997 vs. #25 BYU in the Sun Bowl.

Wilson’s Pick: Mike Price and I go way back to his days at Washington State, but he may have more than he can handle this weekend, as Texas is ridiculously more talented than most teams. The only chance for a Miner’s victory would probably be some sort of forfeit or freakish breakdown by the Longhorns. I like Texas to cover and leave a cloud over the Sun Bowl! Luck to ya.