We remain a bit perplexed at UTEP getting some respect in the marketplace. The Miners' 5.5 season wins total looks pretty aggressive to us, and might be more based on games vs. C-USA and FBS newcomers Delaware and Mizzou State. Or, perhaps based on once-ballyhooed QB Malachi Nelson, a former Gatorade Player of the Year who never found snaps at USC or Boise State. Yet Scotty Walden struggled to 3-9 in his maiden run at UTEP last season and took some real licks outside of conference play. This spread underrates the Utags and new HC Bronco Mendenhall, an established winner who quickly made New Mexico more dangerous a year ago and inherits a potent offense featuring former Utah QB Bryson Barnes. Play Utah State