Recent Play Details

4% #353 UTEP Miners (+1) over Northwestern Wildcats — 

Northwestern has played all but one game this season, and in the process they have looked both bad and worse in the single game! They put up just 7 points and registered 201 yards in their BIG LOSS @ Rutgers.

UTEP has played two games thus far, and while lower level opponents they have shown the ability to perform at all 4 levels. They did lose the opener, but they threw for over 200 yards and held Jacksonville State to just 67 yards passing. In the 2nd game, their rush offense woke up, recording over 330 yards and holding Incarnate Ward to just 63 yards on the ground. Their pass-attack, while limited, is connecting at over 64% on the season (27-42), and they are rushing the ball over 45 times/game! Their pass defense showed up in the opener, and the rush defense stepped up in game 2 For UTEP, and Northwestern is really playing like a glorified AAC team at best right now. 

Last season, Northwestern was in the bottom 30 in rushing yards/gm allowed (191.3 ; 110th), yards/carry allowed, and they allowed over 56% of opponent TDs to come by-way of the rushing game (T-15th worst in FBS LY). UTEP is a team that is going to pound in down their throats and they got that going last week. Over 45 attempts/game, and over 330 yards of rushing on the ground, they should be able to exploit this Northwestern defense. 

On top of that, after one game, I have more questions than answers about this Northwestern offense … and their potential ability to hit double-digit points in the coming weeks.