It’ll be an all-Lone Star State affair when the UTEP Miners travel to Lubbock to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders. We take a look below at which team has more firepower in the Texas Tech vs. UTEP prediction and game preview.

Texas Tech vs. UTEP Prediction & Preview

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Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 12
Game Time: 3:00 ET
Network: Fox

Why You Need To Care

UTEP’s second leg of a season-opening three-game road trip takes it to Lubbock to play Texas Tech. The Miners were handled a week ago by Arkansas, 48-13, which operates with a far more physical approach than what they’ll witness this weekend. The Red Raiders are 1-0. But by beating Sam Houston State, 59-45, they may have created more question marks than answers in the opener.

Why UTEP Will Win

Okay, so two of the touchdowns came when the game was out of reach, but Texas Tech still yielded 637 yards and 6.5 yards per play to an FCS opponent. And while the Miner quarterbacks are mediocre, at best, RB Aaron Jones is capable of tormenting a weak Red Raider D. Jones accounted for 153 yards versus Arkansas, and has the breakaway skills to take a game over.

Why Texas Tech Will Win

Defense, especially pass defense, will not be the Miners’ calling card in 2015. That’s a major concern with the Red Raiders in the on-deck circle. QB Patrick Mahomes built a ramp to his hot 2014 finish, throwing two touchdowns apiece to Devin Lauderdale and Ian Sadler. And RB DeAndre Washington can keep teams from sitting back to defend the pass.

Player Who Matters

Will No. 10 in black be back for the home team? Rush end Pete Robertson, easily Texas Tech’s best defender, was suspended for the opener. While there’s no word yet on his availability this Saturday, the Red Raiders need his pass rushing skills to help support a back seven that will continue to be victimized this fall.

What’s Going To Happen?

UTEP has Jones. One playmaker, though, is not enough to take down a Big 12 opponent, even one with as many question marks as Texas Tech. In El Paso last year, this was a four-point game, but that was before Mahomes entered the mix. The sophomore will help give Tech a little more breathing room, picking apart the Miner secondary.

Texas Tech vs. UTEP Score Prediction

The time has come, folks. The Texas Tech vs. UTEP prediciton is …

Prediction: Texas Tech 41, UTEP 27

Must See Rating: 5: Ferrell Takes the Field – 1: A Walk in The Woods … 2

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