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New Mexico State vs. UTEP prediction and game preview for the season-opener between the Aggies and the Miners.

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New Mexico State vs. UTEP Game Preview

Broadcast Info

Date: Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016

Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX

New Mexico State vs. UTEP Storylines

The Miners enter the fourth year of the Sean Kugler era with a nice haul of returning talent and a favorable schedule. They also have new coordinators on both sides of the football, as Brent Pease and Tom Mason will run the offenses and defenses, respectively.

Meanwhile, Doug Martin will try to get his Aggies to play any sort of defense after his team allowed 45.0 points per game last season—third-worst nationally. Former Boston College head coach Frank Spaziani will be the program’s fourth defensive coordinator in as many seasons.

Matchup to Watch

Pease vs. Spaziani

Pease and Spaziani have both been at higher-profile programs, so these were two shrewd hires by Kugler and Martin, respectively. UTEP needs stability on offense, while New Mexico State bottomed out defensively last season.

Advantages

Offense: New Mexico State. Third-team AP All-American Larry Rose III is the reigning Sun Belt offensive player of the year.

Defense: UTEP. Few units were as bad as New Mexico State.

Special Teams: New Mexico State. UTEP finished near the bottom last year in special teams efficiency.

Coaching: UTEP. Can Kugler get back to a bowl game after the team’s surprising trip in 2014?

Intangibles: Even. The coaching staff shakeups should help the improvement of both teams this fall.

New Mexico State vs. UTEP Betting Odds

Spread: UTEP -3.5

Over/Under: 61.5

New Mexico State vs. UTEP Prediction

The Miners will be improved offensively, and the Aggies just have too many issues on defense. UTEP squeezes out a tight one.

Final Score Prediction For New Mexico State vs. UTEP: UTEP 29, New Mexico State 23

MORE: 2016 College Football Bowl Projections