Arizona vs. UTEP Pick
Can Arizona go on the road and score enough points to hit the over with UTEP when the two teams meet up Friday night at 10:15PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, Arizona is favored on the road in this game, as they are getting odds of -23 points against UTEP. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 58.5 points. Arizona has won the last four meetings with UTEP. The two hit the under in their last meeting in 2003. Friday’s game takes place from the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The game will air live on ESPN.
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Arizona is off to a 1-1 start, picking up a 62-24 win over Northern Arizona and suffering a 19-16 loss to Houston. The Wildcats are 1-1 with the over/under total as well. Arizona is putting up 483 yards per game thus far, but also allowing 472.5 yards per contest. Brandon Dawkins has thrown for 267 yards and a touchdown. He also has rushed for 118 yards and two scores. J.J. Taylor has also run for 131 yards on 26 carries.
UTEP is 0-2 to start the year, suffering a 56-7 loss to Oklahoma and a 31-14 loss to Rice. The Miners are 1-1 with the over/under total as well. UTEP is struggling greatly on offense, averaging 198 yards per game. The defense isn’t doing much better, allowing 556.5 yards per game. Ryan Metz has thrown for 259 yards, but suffered a shoulder injury that has him out indefinitely. Zack Greenlee has taken over for him, but has just eight pass attempts this season. Walter Dawn has rushed for 80 yards and a score to lead the offense.
UTEP hasn’t shown any ability to move the ball through two games. Arizona’s defensive numbers should improve a great deal this week. The Wildcats have a capable offense, but I don’t think they can take on a huge portion of a nearly 60-point total. UTEP has to score multiple times in order for the over to have a chance and I don’t see it happening. The Miners are 11-4 with the under in their last 15 games.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTION: ARIZONA/UTEP UNDER 58.5
