2009 UTEP Football Predictions
Back-to-back losses to end the 2008 season upped the Miners string of losing seasons to three. There is plenty of offense in El Paso, but will the defense hold up on its end of the bargain to get the Miners back in a bowl game? Get my take in this 2009 college football betting preview.
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Offense – QB Trevor Vittatoe leads the Miners offensive attack and he is definitely a player to watch in Conference USA this season. Vittatoe threw for 3,274 yards and 33 touchdowns against just 9 interceptions. Those who aren’t close to the UTEP program probably don’t know that he did all that damage with a nagging ankle injury. His ankle will be 100 percent this season and he should only get better with most of his weapons returning and a veteran offensive line to protect him.
UTEP and Conference USA fans will hear the names of wide receivers Kris Adams and Jeff Moturi often this season. This receiving duo combined for 1,613 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2008. Tufick Shadrawy is the favorite to get most of the snaps as the No. 3 option.
The Miners lost their top running back from the 2008 team, but three others return that were called on often. This unit will also get a boost from the return of Jason Williams, who was injured in the 2008 spring game, and juco transfer Leilyon Myers. Coach Mike Price is hoping the two aforementioned backs can help improve the offense in short yardage situations.
Defense – Defensive coordinator Osia Lewis was in for a rude awakening in his first year running the defense. The Miners finished 112th in the country in scoring defense (37.0 ppg), 115th in total defense (469.8 ypg), 112th in passing defense (270.3 ypg), and 104th in rushing defense (199.5 ypg). In other words, this is the side of the football which must make major strides in 2009 if the Miners hope to become bowl eligible.
The Miners welcome back seven starters and are expecting improved play in the secondary with the return of safeties Braxton Amy and Roddray Walker. These two were projected to start last season before enduring season-ending injuries. They’ll share time with Da’Mon Cromartie-Smith. Cornelius Brown and Melvin Stephenson II are slated to start at the cornerback spots.
UTEP brought in highly regarded juco transfers Tory Robinson and Aaron King to make an impact right away, but that wasn’t the case for most of last season. The coaching staff expects much more from these two seniors in 2009. Isaiah Carter has moved up the depth chart quickly to emerge as the favorite to start at middle linebacker with Greg Holleman and Royzell Smith likely joining him on the outsides.
Prediction: 3rd Conference USA West – The offense is stacked and will once again score 30-plus on a consistent basis, but it’s going to take improvement from a defense which ranked near the bottom of the nation in every major category to break a string of three straight losing seasons. I think the Miners have it in them, but it’s not going to be easy with a non-conference schedule that includes Texas, Kansas, and Buffalo.
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