The UTEP Miners enter their 7th season under former Washington State head coach Mike Price with a goal of returning to bowl play for the first time since 2005. The 2010 version of the Miners are extremely talented offensively, but have a hard time stopping anyone on defense. UTEP will try to improve on the four wins they collected last year. Odds are listed at +14000 for UTEP to win the national title. View the full conference breakdown in our 2010 Conference USA football predictions article.
The first thing opposing defenses have to game plan for when they play UTEP is somehow finding a way to contain RB Donald Buckram. His 1,594 yards broke a single season school rushing record previously held by Fred Wendt. He averaged over 6 yards/carry and hit the end zone on 21 different occasions (three came receiving). The durable back should see a similar workload in his senior season after having the ball in his hands nearly 300 times in 2009. QB Trevor Vittatoe is more than capable of throwing over the top of defenses if they decide to stack the box and stop the run. He eclipsed the 3,000 yard mark for the third time in his career by throwing for 3308 yards last year. The td/int ratio must improve this season, however, as he was fairly close to 1:1 in that department. WR Kris Adams is the top returning receiver with 42 catches and 580 yards. Vittatoe likes to spread it around to a variety of targets, but expect Adams to be the first option. Donavon Kemp and Evan Davi s will likely be the other two starters in the three wide receiver system. These two combined for 30 catches and two scores. TE Jonny Moore is used mainly for running blocking purposes and has good size at 6'5 250 pounds. The offensive line has to replace two all conference performers, but do return three starters and produce similar results.
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The defensive side of the ball was one of the worst in the nation last season, giving up 447 yards/game. The 33 points/game allowed is a bit skewed after giving up 64 points to Texas in their fourth game. Run defense was a major issue for the front seven as opposing offenses managed over 200 yards a contest vs. the Miners. The linebacker unit will be strong with two returning starters who finished third and fourth in total tackles. Royzell Smith excelled as a sophomore with 68 tackles and should produce even better numbers with the experience he gained last year. Jeremy Springer and DeShawn Grayson will fill the other two starting slots as UTEP switches back to a 4-3 alignment under new defensive coordinator Andrew Patterson. The front four are going to be overwhelmed by above average offensive lines and might not improve much against the run. Good news came through recently though as SS Braxton Amy was granted a 6th year of eligibility and is UTEP's best defensive player.
Reaching a bowl game is a relative possibility this season, but the Miners are going to have to earn it. Road conference games against Houston and Tulsa offer a stern challenge. Houston will try to avenge a 17 point loss. Arkansas shows up on the schedule this season in November and the Razorbacks are ranked in the Top 15 by many preseason publications. I believe the offense is going to score points in bunches once again, but the defense is going to give them up just as easily. A 6-6 record is in store for UTEP.
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