Conference USA showdown between the North Texas Mean Green and the UTEP Miners. The Mean Green squeaked out a 20-17 victory over UTEP in Dallas last season. North Texas started the season at 1-6 but rebounded to win five-straight games. They got it done on the ground, ranking fifth in the nation in rushing yards last season. That success did come with a cost, as their top RB hit the transfer portal and moved on. They do return their other top-four runningbacks and their starting quarterback. UTEP started the season 8-1 but struggled down the stretch losing five in a row. The UTEP Miners have returning quarterback Gavin Hardison to lead the Miner's offense He threw for 3,223 and 18 touchdowns last season. The Miners lived by the big play as they were just 89th in scoring last season but second nationally in plays of 40 or more yards. When the Miners were winning, they went under in six of seven games. Conversely, during thier losing streak at the end of the season, playing their best football in 2021, they were consistently under the game total, going 1-6 to the over in the team's first seven games. During the team's final six games they went over 5 times. North Texas was 3-2 to the under during their five-game winning streak down the stretch last season. North Texas rushed for 189 yards against UTEP last season and I look for them to do more of the same in this game. North Texas will try to keep their defense off the field as they have seven new faces on that side of the ball and look to replace their best two defensive players up front who went into the portal. UTEP scored 17 points last season and I am looking for a close game in this one as both teams settle into the first game of the season.
Play on the UNDER.