UTEP at UB /7 tonight, UB Stadium
TV: TW13. Radio: 1230 AM. Line: UB by 3. UTEP: Is 39-46-5 in season openers, but is 3-1 under Mike Price. . . . Has scored over 30 points in road openers in each of the last three seasons. . . . Trevor Vittatoe is the first QB in school history to start as a freshman and sophomore. UB: This is the second straight season the Bulls have hosted a team from Texas in their home opener. They played Baylor last season. . . . QB Drew Willy’s first completion will give him the school record for career completions. . . . Willy had a school record 135.7 QB rating in 2007. UTEP might win if: It finds a way to stop UB’s offense, although the Miners were quite benevolent with the points and yards in 2007. The Miners utilize the 3-3-5 scheme, which is similar to Akron’s, and are hoping it improves a defense that ranked near the bottom of the country last season. UB might win if: It can slow down the Miners’ offense. Price’s teams have always had a tendency to score big, and Vittatoe can sling the ball all over the field, which means the Bulls’ secondary will get quite a workout. Because they have good depth and talent in the secondary, look for the Bulls to run several nickel packages. The best way to beat UTEP is to keep the offense off the field, so the Bulls will run plenty behind TB James Starks.
Outlook: This has all the makings of a high-scoring, entertaining shootout, although the forecast calls for heavy rain, which could put a damper on the score fest. Whoever limits their turnovers, and has the last possession, will be the winner.
Prediction: UB 45, UTEP 42.
—Rodney McKissic
