No doubt about it, UTEP was completely overmatched last weekend in Manhattan, Kansas.

If you didn’t watch the game and only saw the final score, you might have thought the Miners made it respectable.

UTEP did outscore the Wildcats in the second half (28-27), but a disastrous first 30 minutes of the game doomed the Miners and put them in a hole they would never escape.

Fortunately for UTEP, they will not have to face another team even close to the quality of the 23rd ranked Wildcats and more importantly the Miners offense will not have to face a better defense from here on out.

Which brings us to the Conference USA part of the schedule.

After last season it may be difficult to look ahead especially after last weekend’s crushing loss, however, if UTEP can somehow win out the rest of their games in the Sun Bowl they would be bowl eligible.

Think about that for a second and why stop there.

Throw in a split on the road with their remaining road matchups and the Miners could be sitting at 8-4 and just maybe a spot in the conference championship game.

Mind boggling, right?

First things first as UTEP heads to Ruston for a key opening CUSA battle with Louisiana Tech (2-3, 1-0 CUSA).  Odds makers currently have the Miners as 12-point underdogs, but with the Bulldogs reeling after losses to Northwestern State (yes, an FCS school) and Auburn; UTEP could not only secure an important road win, but could also send a message to the rest of the relatively weak West Division that the Miners are ready to shed the pretender label.

Historically the road hasn’t been kind to the Miners in CUSA play and wins over the subpar New Mexico schools have helped to pad the record, but haven’t really given a true barometer as to how far this UTEP team can go this season.

Even with their recent losing streak, the Bulldogs have a solid team and present UTEP with plenty of challenges for both the offense and defense.  I don’t even want to get into the special teams issues from last weekend.

One game doesn’t make a season and a road loss to Louisiana Tech wouldn’t exactly knock UTEP out of bowl eligibility, but with some difficult home opponents the Miners would do well to steal a road game or two if and when they stumble in the Sun Bowl.

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