Saturday, September 27, 2014

Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium in Manhattan

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Kansas State (2-1) fell 5 spots in the rankings despite playing #5 Auburn well last Thursday in a 20-14 loss. The 25th ranked Wildcats will look to get back in their winning ways against a UTEP (2-1) team that is surprisingly adept at running the ball, ranking #9 in the nation with 314 yards per contents.

The Miners are led by Aaron Jones, a sophomore RB that ranks 4th in the FBS with 549 rush yards. The 185-pounder has scored 2 or more TD's in all three UTEP games while totaling over 140 yards in each. Jones will have a tough go of it against a smothering Kansas State run defense that limited Auburn, which averages 262 yards a game, to just 128. Unfortunately for the Miners, if Jones can't get lose their hopes of overcoming the four touchdown underdog label to get the win are likely dashed. QB Jameill Showers hasn't tallied more than 130 yards passing in a game yet this year and the UTEP air attack is the 6th worst in the nation.

While the Miners' offense does have some questions, so does Kansas State after rushing for just 40 yards on 30 carries against Auburn. QB Jake Waters was forced into his most pass attempts of the season and responded well going 24/40 for 245 yards but threw 2 back-breaking interceptions that basically cost his team a shot at the huge upset. Waters also carried the ball 11 times in that game but produced -7 rushing yards total, a big difference from a 20-138 yard day a game prior.

Did Auburn provide the blueprint for shutting down the vaunted Kansas State option attack or do they simply have superior athletes that made it possible? That's a question UTEP and their rush defense that ranks 12th worst in the country are going to get a lesson on. The Miners give up 242 YPG on the ground, which could be a nice reprieve for Waters and the running game before they begin the main part of their Big 12 season.

UTEP Miners Betting Trends

UTEP Miners are 3-0-0 Against the Spread

UTEP Miners are 1-2-0 against the Over/Under

Kansas State Wildcats Betting Trends

Kansas State Wildcats are 1-2-0 Against the Spread

Kansas State Wildcats are 2-1-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

UTEP Miners

09/22/14 TE Eric Tomlinson Undisclosed probable Saturday vs. Kansas State
09/22/14 RB Jeremiah Laufasa Ankle injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Kansas State
09/21/14 CB Ishmael Harrison Arm "?" Saturday vs. Kansas State
09/21/14 CB Kelvin Fisher Foot "?" Saturday vs. Kansas State
08/15/14 OL Kyle Brown Lung out for season

Kansas State Wildcats

No injuries to report at this time

Tony's Pick: Take Kansas State

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