Mo's First Look at BYU's 2010 New Mexico Bowl Opponent

The Opponent
The UTEP Miners finished in 4th place in the Conference USA West Division, with a 6-6 overall record, and a 3-5 record in conference.  According to Jeff Sagarin's Elo Chess Formula (used in BCS standings), they are the 116th-rated team in Division I (behind 20 FCS schools).  There are only two bowl-eligible teams rated lower than they are and both are Sun Belt teams.  They accomplished this playing the 127th-toughest schedule, again according to Jeff Sagarin.

The Stars
QB Trevor Vittatoe threw for over 2500 yards and 19 TDs.
RB Joseph Banyard rushed for 612 yards and 8 TDs, averaging 5.7 yards/carry.
WR Kris Adams had 44 receptions for 917 yards and 11 TDs, averaging over 20 yards/catch.
CB Travaun Nixon had 3 interceptions and 69 tackles.
S Wiston Jeune and LB Jamie Irving led the team in tackles with 79 and 78, respectively.

The Schedule and Results, Part I
Game 1: Arkansas Pine-Bluff (FCS), 5-6 record.
Result: UTEP won 31-10 at home.
Highs: UTEP rushed and passed for over 200 yards each.  They held the Golden Lions to 76 rushing yards (Pine-Bluff averaged 135 yards/game).
Lows: UTEP did not throw a TD pass, despite 27 passing attempts.  Arkansas Pine-Bluff WR Raymond Webber had 10 catches for 123 yards against the Miner secondary.  The score was 14-10 at halftime.

Game 2: Houston, 5-7 record.
Result: UTEP lost 54-24 on the road.
Highs: Trevor Vittatoe threw for 340 yards and 3 TDs, with no interceptions.  They held Case Keenum to under 300 yards (no minor feat) and zero touchdowns.
Lows: The Miners had only 100 rushing yards in a game with nearly 1100 yards of total offense.  They gave up over 300 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns.  The final score was also a low: 54 points given up in a single game.

Game 3: New Mexico State, 2-10 record
Result: UTEP won 42-10 at home.
Highs: Trevor Vittatoe threw for 246 yards and 5 TDs.  The running game contributed 249 yards on 7.1 yards/carry.  They held NMSU to less than 100 rushing yards and a 53% completion percentage.
Lows: Kick coverage allowed a punt and kickoff return for over 30 yards.  The Miners only led by 11 points at halftime, at home, against one of the worst teams in college football.

Game 4: Memphis, 1-11 record
Result: UTEP won 16-13 at home.
Highs: 10 different Miners had catches.  They held Memphis to under 300 yards of offense.  They won.
Lows: They only got 288 total yards against the 114th-rated defense in the country.  UTEP averaged under 4 yards/carry.  Vittatoe had a sub-50% completion percentage.  They lost time of possession by over 9 minutes.  They only won by 3 at home against a 1-11 team.

Game 5: New Mexico, 1-11 record
Result: UTEP won 38-20 on the road.
Highs: Kris Adams had 5 catches for 141 yards and 2 TDs.  Trevor Banyard had his 3rd highest rushing total of the season with 90 yards.  Trevor Vittatoe threw for 264 yards with 3 TDs and 0 INTs.  The Miner defense held New Mexico to 237 total yards.
Lows: Only a 54% completion percentage against the 111th passing efficiency defense in the country.  They gave up 20 points to the 116th scoring team in the country.

Game 6: Rice, 4-8 record
Result: UTEP won 44-24 at home
Highs: Vittatoe threw for 327 yards and 3 TDs in the win, averaging over 10 yards/attempt (only time this season).  Adams had 5 catches for 134 yards and 3 TDs.  Pierce Hunter also had more than 100 receiving yards in the game.  UTEP committed no turnovers.
Lows: Allowed 3 passing TDs.  Didn't force any turnovers.  Allowed 25 yards/punt return.

Thoughts Through 6 Games
Through 6 games, UTEP was 5-1.  They had yet to play a bowl-bound team.  They were outplayed at home by a 1-11 team.  They have had a couple of good games, but the opponents were all very lousy.  In several games, they won in spite of themselves and because of their competition.  They were probably the most lousy 5-1 team I have ever analyzed...and this with a 4-year starter at QB, and several other veteran contributors on both sides of the ball.