Texas Longhorns at UTEP Miners

The Texas Longhorns (1-0 SU & ATS), who buried their first opponent of the 2008 season, will look to beat up on another one on Saturday when they visit El Paso to play the UTEP Miners (0-1 SU & ATS), who took it on the chin last week, in NCAA football action that is set to begin at 10:15 PM ET at the Sun Bowl (artificial turf).

Saturday, September 6

BetUS NCAAF Betting Odds: TEXAS -26.5, Total 58

Here are some of the NCAA football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* TEX has covered four of its last five games

* TEX has won seven of its last eight games SU

* TEX has played four of its last five games OVER the total

* TEX has covered three of its nine road games

* TEX has won 17 of its last 19 road games SU

* TEX has played seven of its last eight road games OVER the total

* UTEP has covered one of its last five games

* UTEP has lost its last seven games SU

* UTEP has played six of its last nine games OVER the total

* UTEP has won 15 of its last 23 home games SU

Texas looked impressive in the opener, rolling up 503 yards in beating Florida Atlantic 52-10. Colt McCoy was 24 of 29 with three TD's and no miscues, gaining 103 yards on the ground as well, and although he wasn't sternly tested by the FAU defense, is the challenge greater against a UTEP stop unit that let Buffalo's Drew Willy and James Starks run wild in the 42-17 loss last week?

Is there something potentially redeeming about what UTEP did against Buffalo? Maybe not, but one wouldn't be unreasonable to expect that Trevor Vittatoe, who threw 25 TD's with 7 interceptions last year but was picked off three times against Buffalo, could improve on that performance. UTEP is getting a lot of points, and was pretty tough as an underdog last year, going 6-1-1 ATS in that role.

Maybe Texas will feel in a charitable mood?

One interesting thing about this game that deserves mentioning is that it is probably the biggest sporting event in El Paso in many years. Contrary to what you might think, these schools do not play each other regularly. In fact, the last time the Longhorns and Miners met was 1933 (we're not aware of who covered). So when this game was announced a couple of years ago, there was naturally a lot of excitement. The contest is sold out (52,000), and though there will almost certainly be a healthy number of UT fans in attendance, UTEP will be well-represented, with season ticket sales alone at 24,000.

Crowd noise and the supercharged atmosphere ought to bring out a performance by the Miners that will be much different in character than the uninspired effort they gave against MAC entry Buffalo, who (and let's swallow hard here), they may have actually been LOOKING PAST. I'm not sure Texas, which has Arkansas on deck, will be quite as interested. Let's count on veteran coach Mike Price conducting a good week of practice, and take the points with UTEP, the 26.5-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA football betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: UTEP +26.5 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com gives it more than the old college try as a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)