UTEP vs. New Mexico Preview

Price and company look to avenge last year’s loss to Lobos

Date: Saturday, September 1, 2007

Location: Sun Bowl (51,500); El Paso, TX

Time: 8:06 p.m. (MST)

Television: CSTV (national)

Records: First game for both teams

Rankings: None

All-Time Series Record: New Mexico leads 42-29-3

 

The battle between the schools located in El Paso and Albuquerque has arguably never been more heated. The Lobos return nine starters on defense, and the University of New Mexico defense is one of the more complicated setups in college football, with their “Lobo” position, which became infamous behind the name Brian Urlacher.

Last year’s performance by the Miners in a 26-13 loss to the Lobos has left a bitter feeling and an even worse taste for UTEP, which they plan on dealing with on the Sun bowl come September 1st.

UTEP Offense v. UNM Defense

UNM doesn’t only bring a complicated defensive scheme with them to the Sun Bowl; they bring back nine starters who know how to use the “Lobo” system to their advantage in either disguising blitzes as coverage, or disguising coverage as though they are blitzing. For all their coverage schemes and blitz packages, they are an undersized defense, basically running a 3-3-5 defense, with that “Lobo” position virtually a third safety.

The advantage in this case has to go to the Miners, for the reason that they have so many prolific, yet untested, weapons on offense. What will matter most is how the offensive line plays for UTEP, if they can get the blocks they need in order to run the ball and eat up the clock against an undersized Lobo defense, it has a very good chance to collect a season opening win.

UTEP Defense v. UNM Offense

UTEP will open its season with a nationally-televised contest versus New Mexico at the Sun Bowl on Saturday night. Photo: CWaltz75 @ Webshots

Last year, the Lobos had major problems finding their offense, as they didn’t muster any until the eighth game of the year versus Utah. As a matter of fact, they lost to FCS opponent (formerly I-AA) Portland State in a 17-6 battle in Albuquerque in their first game of the season. For the most part, the Lobos attempt to pound the running game before anything else, and if the running game bottles up for the Lobo’s, they may very well be in for a long night. Their offense is based off of being balanced and being able to chew up clock when they are ahead by even a couple of points.

The Miner defense is full of questions and talent but with only a handful of starters returning from a subpar defense, it will be, at the very least, interesting to see how well the defense does in its debut against UNM.

So the UTEP defense has its hands full to say the least, and they may very well get banged around for a while in this game until they can make the certain adjustments to the Lobos offense while finding their identity as a defense.

The Lobos would have the advantage in a low-scoring game and depending on how their quarterback plays it may very well be a low scoring decision such as it has been in the past two meetings by these teams.

New Mexico @ UTEP Prediction:

The Miners are going to have their hands full with the experienced team that the Lobos bring into the Sun Bowl, but the Miners have more than enough talent to win this game with all talent on hand. However, UTEP must limit its turnovers and convert its drives into points for this game to go their way as they will likely be forced to win a shootout in this one.

UTEP 38 - New Mexico 27