UTEP Miners (1-2) 1-2 ATS, 1-2 O/U at No. 2 Texas Longhorns (3-0) 0-2 ATS, 0-2 O/U Saturday, September 26, 2009 3:30 p.m. EST Austin, Texas, Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
By Wilson of Predictem.com
Point Spread: UTEP +34/Texas -34
Over/Under: TBA
The Texas Longhorns will welcome the University of Texas El Paso to Austin this weekend for another in-state battle for the second consecutive week. Last weekend the Longhorns hosted Texas Tech and got revenge over their loss to the Red Raiders who knocked the Longhorns out of the BCS Championship race a year ago. Texas beat the Red Raiders 34-24 to remain undefeated and ranked No. 2 in the Nation heading into this weekend.
Texas QB Colt McCoy was 24 of 34 for 205 yards and a touchdown. McCoy also had 2 interceptions. Longhorns running back Tre` Newton carried the ball 20 times for 88 yards and a TD.
With the score 24-17 in favor of Texas Colt McCoy connected with Dan Buckner for a 9-yard TD pass that secured the game for the Longhorns. Texas didnt exactly have a stellar game but they got the job done.
The big bonus for the Longhorns was their defensive play as they came up with two huge stops late in the game to hold off the Red Raiders.
UTEP is coming off of a big win over New Mexico State 38-12 at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, NM. New Mexicos Donald Buckram rushed for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns to help the Aggies roll over NM.
The Miners were ahead 31-0 at one point and never looked back. Most of UTEPs attack came on the ground behind Buckram and Vernon Frazier, who also scored 2 touchdowns as well. Will Texas El Paso have a chance against the Horns? Probably not but it is an inner-State matchup so I suppose anything is possible.
UTEP is 2-8 ATS in their last ten contests versus Big 12 opponents. The over is 6-2 in the Miners last eight games as a dog. The Longhorns are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games against CUSA teams. Also, Texas is 19-7 ATS in their last 26 games against teams that have a losing record.
Most of the online bookies have the line at -34.5 in favor of the Longhorns but some are showing -34. If youre more of a Las Vegas bettor then the Mirage, PH, and Hard Rock are all currently posting the line at Texas -34. However, the Las Vegas Hilton has Texas at -33.5.
No matter where you decide to play it looks like the Miners have their work ahead of them if they want to make a fuss in Austin this weekend.
The QB matchup is heavily in favor of Colt McCoy from Texas. McCoy currently has a 68.2 pass completion rate to UTEPs Trevor Vittatoes 54.5 completion rate. McCoy has struggled with turnovers as of late with 4 INTs. The Last time these two teams met was September 6, 2008 when Texas downed the Miners 42-13. The line was Texas -26 and the O/U was 59.5.
The Miners will certainly be looking for any angle they can find this weekend in Austin but it might not come easy against the No. 2 team in the land. Miners head Coach Mike Price has coached in his fair share of big games as he coached in the Pac 10 (Washington State University Cougars) and had appearances in several bowl games including two on New Years Day in the Rose Bowl. Even with the line in favor of Texas -34.5 it may be a closer game then most critics suggest.
Wilsons Pick: Texas 42, UTEP 20. The Miners cover in Austin. Luck to ya.
