UTEP Faces Different Texas Tech QB Than 2014’s Close Loss

The Red Raiders may not have much of a defense, but they do have a solid special teams unit and a blossoming offense. Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury was still unsure as of Wednesday whether senior DE Pete Robertson, who had a Big 12-best 12 sacks a year ago, would play against UTEP after missing the opener due to “an internal team matter.”3”. We take a look below at which team has more firepower in the Texas Tech vs. UTEP prediction and game preview.

The Red Raiders escaped El Paso last season with a 30-26 win over the Miners, after UTEP failed to convert a fourth down conversion with 1:23 left to play.

UTEP allowed a 300 yard passer, while Tech allowed 300 yards rushing last week.

“When you give up that many yards and that many points to a team that you’re supposed to be a lot better than, I’m not going to defend anybody”, Gibbs told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on Monday. “I didn’t feel like they went insane”.

Tech was in a close battle with a respectable FCS opponent, but came out strong in the second half and put Sam Houston State away in the third quarter despite two late touchdowns allowed. Jakeem Grant won’t return another kickoff for points, but he will provide good field position and Taylor Symmank will continue to boot the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs and provide an advantage with his punting prowess. The Red Raiders cannot afford the hefty penalties if they are looking to start 2-0 for the 11th consecutive year.

The Red Raiders will shaft the Miners 45 to 31 after getting to an early lead and maintaining the distance for the duration of the contest. On two big gains on offense, penalties sent the Red Raiders backward. Now lets get to the roadmap of what a Texas Tech football fan should tune into this weekend. “That’s inexcusable”, offensive coordinator Eric Morris said. The bad news was that the Red Raiders gave up 671 total yards to sit at the bottom of the Big 12. UTEP junior RB Aaron Jones will prove challenging. Sophomore QB Patrick Mahomes II was named the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Week after completing 33-of-53 passes for 425 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for a career-high 48 yards on five carries.