North Texas at UTEP 8/27/22 - College Football Picks & Predictions

The North Texas Mean Green visit the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas on Saturday play the UTEP Miners in the opening game of the college football regular season for both teams. North Texas State ended its 2021 season with five consecutive victories that included a 20-17 win against UTEP. Austin Aune returns as the starting quarterback. Last season, Aune passed for 1,990 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Ikaika Ragsdale is the leading running back returning from last season after gaining 534 yards and five touchdowns and will be joined by Ayo Adeyi who rushed for 496 yards and six touchdowns. Roderic Burns is the leading receiver back from last season after catching 58 passes for 802 yards and four touchdown passes. The North Texas defense will bend but rarely break.

The UTEP Miners were 7-6 overall and 4-4 in the Conference-USA last season. The UTEP offense will be led by quarterback Gavin Hardison who passed for 3,223 yards with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Ronald Awatt returns as the leading rusher after last season gaining 854 yards with six touchdowns and Deion Hankins gained 453 yards and six touchdowns and also returns.

The leading receivers for UTEP are Tyrin Smith, who last season gained more than 17 yards per reception on 33 catches, while tight end Trent Thompson had four touchdown receptions in nine catches. The UTEP defense is strong against the run, finishing second last season in the conference and will have eight of its starters back.