An ugly start for UTEP has featured an offense that is averaging just under fifteen points per game. Yet, three of their games were on the road including back to back games against power five schools. Returning home look for the Miners to have a leg up on a UNLV team that is coming off an over achieving win against Vanderbilt.

After fooling around with various candidates from the Big Sky and High School ranks in recent decade, UNLV made a serious hire with Barry Odom, and suddenly Wayne Newton and his friends are starting to talk bowl on the Strip after last week’s thrilling win vs. Vandy. A little QB controversy might also be brewing as frosh backup Jaden Maiava came off the bench for the injured Doug Brumfield and passed fore 261 yards while rushing for another 29 and setting up the last-second winning FG with a 48-yard bomb to ex-Michigan State speedster Ricky White. Dana Dimel's Miners couldn’t score a TD at Arizona until the final 2 minutes last week and are tallying barely 10 ppg vs. FBS opposition.