The Sports Network
DATE & TIME: Saturday, October 7th, 9:05 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: Sun Bowl (51,500) -- El Paso, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: SMU 2-0, UTEP 1-1. Away Record: SMU 1-2, UTEP 1-1. Neutral Record: SMU 0-0, UTEP 0-0. Conference Record: SMU 1-0, UTEP 0-0. Series Record: SMU leads, 9-4.
GAME NOTES: The UTEP Miners will open their 2006 Conference-USA schedule when they host the SMU Mustangs this Saturday at the Sun Bowl. After losing two straight games to Texas Tech (38-35 OT) and New Mexico (26-13), the Miners rebounded with their second victory of the season, defeating New Mexico State, 44-38. As for the Mustangs, they opened the season with back-to-back losses, but since then the team has been red-hot, winning three consecutive matchups, including a hard fought 33-28 win over Tulane last week. If SMU is victorious over UTEP it would be the best start for the Mustangs since the 1986 season, when the team opened the year with a 5-1 mark. 1986 was also the last time SMU started a season 2-0 in conference play. SMU holds a 9-4 advantage over UTEP in the overall series and that includes a 40-27 victory over the Miners last season in Dallas.
After scoring just nine total points in their first two contests, the Mustangs have exploded on offense and are now posting 28.4 ppg on the season. In the victory over Tulane, the Mustangs collected 359 total yards and racked up 24 first downs. SMU only rushed for 98 yards in the contest, which is somewhat surprising considering the team is posting 149.6 ypg on the ground. James Mapps, who is leading the team with 186 rushing yards, had an atrocious outing, finishing the game with negative 14 yards on six attempts. Quarterback Justin Willis led the way with 76 yards and one score on 15 carries. Willis was even better when he stayed in the pocket and finished the contest with 261 passing yards and two scores. Willis was sacked three times and also threw an interception in the contest. On the season, Willis has been impressive, completing 67.8 percent of his passes for 841 yards. The signal-caller also has 12 touchdowns to go against just three interceptions. A main reason for Willis' success is a deep receiving corps which showcases Bobby Chase and Emmanuel Sanders. In the win over Tulane, Chase collected six passes for 54 yards, while Sanders hauled in four passes for 62 yards and one touchdown. On the season, the two receivers have combined for 33 receptions, 452 yards and four scores.
The Mustangs' defensive unit could be compared to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. SMU has done a tremendous job against opponent's rushing attacks, surrendering just 81.6 ypg, but the defense has struggled mightily against the pass, allowing opponents to collect 268.6 ypg through the air. In the victory over Tulane, the Mustangs were simply amazing against the run, holding the Green Wave to negative 33 yards on 21 carries. While the defensive front continued to dominate, the backfield was once again torched. Tulane was able to produce a whopping 398 yards through the air against SMU. Fortunately the defense was able to recorded six sacks and force one turnover en route to the victory. The Mustangs have been able to put pressure on the quarterback all season and now have 16 sacks on the year. Joe Sturdivant led the team with 10 tackles in the victory and now has a team-high 37 on the season.
The Miners could be considered a one-trick pony. While UTEP is struggling for its ground game to gain an identity (75.8 ypg), the passing attack has opposing defenses running for the hills. On the season, the Miners are posting a whopping 303.2 ypg and 11 of the teams 14 offensive touchdowns have come via the pass. In the victory over New Mexico State last week, the Miners actually rushed for 123 yards, but what was even more impressive was the passing attack. Quarterback Jordan Palmer completed 16-of-26 passes in the victory for an outstanding 414 yards and three scores. Palmer did also tossed two interceptions in the win. On the season, Palmer has completed an impressive 69.0 percent of his passes and already has 1,172 yards and 10 scores. The only knock on Palmer this season is his tendency to make mistakes (eight interceptions in four games). Every quarterback needs a go-to guy and for Palmer, that guy is Johnnie Lee Higgins. In the win over NMSU, Higgins was extremely busy, finishing the contest with an astonishing 223 yards and three scores on just seven receptions. In just four games, Higgins has proven to be one of the best wideouts in the Conference-USA and currently has 30 catches for 493 yards and six scores.
The problem for UTEP this season has been the play on the defensive side of the ball. The Miners are currently surrendering 32.2 ppg and allowing the opposition to average 431.2 ypg. The defensive unit is only permitting 118 ypg on the ground, but the real problem lies in the backfield where the Miners are being torched for 313.2 ypg. In the win over NMSU, the Miners held the Aggies to just 67 rushing yards, but once again struggled mightily against the pass, allowing NMSU to accumulated an astonishing 506 yards and four scores through the air. Fortunately UTEP was able to put pressure on the quarterback at points and finished the game with five sacks. Although the Miners were victorious, they allowed NMSU to collect a whopping 33 first downs and also allowed the Aggies to convert on 4-of-6 red zone chances. Josh Chamois and Joe Fleskoski both collected 11 tackles in the victory. Troy Collavo added six stops in the win and now has a team-best 38 tackles on the season.
The Miners have played horrendous defense this season and will no doubt allow the Mustangs to find the end zone on more then one occasion. However, UTEP has done a terrific job passing the ball this season and considering how dreadful SMU has been defending the pass, the Miners could sneak away with a victory.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: UTEP 45, SMU 37
