Article Data Imported from Previous NDL SiteWeek 1 Bitter Rivals: Houston at UTEP
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MARQUEE RIVALRY
No. 18 Houston (0-0) at UTEP (0-0)
It may be by surprise, but the most explosive rivalry in the first two weeks of NDL Season 20 will not be taking place in a 100,000 seat stadium pitting top ten teams. It will occur at Sun Bowl Stadium in week two when the hated Houston Cougars travel to town to take on the UTEP Miners.
THE HISTORY
Total Meetings: 16
Series Record: Houston leads 10-6
Longest Streak: Houston S16-TBD
Active Streak: Houston S16-TBD
Last Meeting: Houston 21, UTEP 14 in Season 19
As history tells it, UTEP did their winning in this rivalry early on in the series. The UTEP Miners actually held a 4-3 series advantage heading into season 11 but that season marked the return of Coach RanDawg to the Houston Cougars and the rivalry has been one-sided ever since.
Coach RanDawg would lead Houston to a 35-0 thumping of UTEP in season 11 which would knot the series at four each. UTEP would take back control of the series the next season with 21-14 victory but it has been all Coach RanDawg and Houston ever since as the Cougars have won six of the last seven, including the last four straight.
So what makes this rivalry so good for season 20?
While Coach RanDawg is entering his 15th season at Houston the UTEP Miners have had a familar face at the helm of their squad for a while now as well. Coach Quest4gold is entering his third season in El Paso, Texas and his impact on this Houston-UTEP matchup was apparent immediately. Houston rolled to a 38-14 win over UTEP in season 16, and followed it with a 34-14 win in season 17. As soon as Coach Quest4gold came to UTEP in season 18 the high flying Houston Cougars seemed to be grounded and eeked out a 24-12 win, and just a 21-14 victory last season. It appears the tide is turning.
THE MATCHUP
OFFENSE - This match-up possesses some of the most talented offensive weapons you will see not wearing automatic qualifier uniforms. Everyone knows all about Houston QB Case Keenum and his impressive stat line from last season that nearly saw him win the Heisman Trophy but the player that may have a bigger impact on the game could be UTEP's Donald Buckram.
After a offensive overhaul that came just after last season's UTEP-Houston game Buckram has been marching through, over, and around opposing defenses as he himself received some Heisman attention in the second half of last year as he helped UTEP rattle off six straight wins heading into bowl season. UTEP scored an avaerage of 25.3 points a game the rest of the regular season, offensive production that could bring them a victory over Houston if Buckram and the Miners continue to roll in season 20.
The opposing offense literally struck fear into the hearts of their opponents last season. Case Keenum's 5116 yards and 51 TD's led Houston to an 11-0 record before they were tripped up by the Texas Longhorns. Offseason reports out of Houston suggest Keenum and the Houston offense will try to topple those unhuman-like numbers in season 20 and they very well may but as far as week two against UTEP goes one main factor may determine the winner: time possession.
Keenum and Houston can score and can score quick, when they have the ball, when they do not have the ball they can not score. If Donald Buckram and the UTEP offense can pick up first downs on a consistent basis they can control the clock and keep Keenum off the field.
DEFENSE - Neither defense will be noticed in this game dominated by offensive stars, unless they step up and make a play.
UTEP's secondary seems to be extremely over matched on paper with sophomore safety Deshawn Grayson being the best chance to cause Keenum problems in the passing game but this is the same defense that held Houston to their lowest offensive output of season 19, with just 21 points.
Middle linebacker Marcus McGraw leads the Houston defense who will be looking to contain HB Donald Buckram. UTEP's offensive line matches up very well against Houston's defensive line so look for the preseason All-American McGraw to get plenty of one-on-one meetings with Buckram on the field. Cougar safties Nick Saenz and Roisean Haynes will often come up into the box to help.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Both schools have wonderful kicker/punter combos but look for neither team to be kicking anything but extra points or game winning field goals.
PREDICTION
You could go back and forth all day long on who will win this one. UTEP has given this Houston offense problems before and now they have a potent offense to match. Even though the defense has had previous success against Houston it will be the UTEP offense that will play the biggest role in stopping Houston. If UTEP can control the ball and keep Keenum off the field they may frustrate the Houston offense, easier said than done though. You have to believe if Keenum is given any amount of time at all he will march the Cougars down the field for a game winning score. Expect something similar here as the Cougars make it five in-a-row, but not as comfortable as in seasons past.
HOUSTON 31
UTEP 28
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