2024 Pre-Season Pick Contest

[kyyote]

I am retired and have plenty of time to spend pondering these things so I am going to make my predictions and invite others to do the same.  But, it is kind of like playing poker for matchsticks unless there's something on it more than just bragging rights.  So, there will be a prize.

Make your picks with winner, loser, and score.  Award one point for correct pick, win or lose.  Also, using weekly OPT scoring add three points for a 1st place win, two for 2nd, and so on.  Also, add three points for a correct pick against oddsmakers picks of winners or losers.  Pick an upset and it is worth three points.  No one knows who the favorites will be at this time.  We are pretty sure about some games and all have our own ideas for who we think may or may not be the team that will win.  Some of us are swayed by desire more than others.
                                                   

************************  Home                Winner                     Score Aug 31 UTEP                                      NE                     NE                          48 10 Sep 7   Southern Utah                    UTEP                     UTEP                       28  14 Sep 14   UTEP                               Liberty                   Liberty                    31 24 Sep 21  UTEP                                 CO St                    CO St                     34 24 Oct 3  Sam Houston                       UTEP                     UTEP                       28 14 Oct 10  UTEP                                  WKU                     WKU                        35 21 Oct 16 FIU                                     UTEP                    UTEP                        31 21 Oct 22 UTEP                                   LA T                   LA T                        27 17 Nov 2  MTU                                   UTEP                    MTU                      27 24 Nov 9  Ken St                                  UTEP                  UTEP                       35 14 Nov 23 UTEP                                   Tenn                  Tenn                        48 14 Nov 30  UTEP                                  NMSU                 UTEP                       31 21

 


Well, if this game has been hard before, this one is a whole new level of hard.  Some would say it has to be pure luck, butthat is not true.  Picking correctly is NOT just random drawings from a hat.                     

[MinerInWisconsin]

A new season with a new coaching staff, new energy around the program brings new hope. Thanks for doing this each year as it adds some interest to the season. I have to wait for spring ball which starts March 18 and ends April 20 with the spring game. Not that spring practice tells us a lot since it?s our offense against our defense but it?s at least something. I will attempt to restrain my annual optimism this year but last season was the pits and this season is a huge unknown with lots of players gone and 47 new players coming. It will be interesting at the very least.

[MinerInWisconsin]

I waited for spring ball to be completed so now I need to make my predictions based somewhat on that. The post spring ball departures, 6 or so by now, are imo based on where the guys see themselves in the depth chart. No harm in trying to find a place where you are more likely to see the field. I was surprised that Jake McNamara, QB, ended up at NMSU so quickly. I think he must have been at best number 3 on UTEP's depth chart but I do think he is a good qb.


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Aug 31 UTEP                                      NE                     NE                          34 20

Sep 7   Southern Utah                    UTEP                     UTEP                       38  20

Sep 14   UTEP                               Liberty                   Liberty                    31 27

Sep 21  UTEP                                 CO St                    CO St                     31 27

Oct 3  Sam Houston                       UTEP                     UTEP                       31 17

Oct 10  UTEP                                  WKU                     WKU                        34 28

Oct 16 FIU                                     UTEP                    UTEP                        34 17

Oct 22 UTEP                                   LA T                   LA T                          28 24

Nov 2  MTU                                   UTEP                    UTEP                        38 24

Nov 9  Ken St                                 UTEP                  UTEP                         45 14

Nov 23 UTEP                                   Tenn                  Tenn                         38 20

Nov 30  UTEP                                  NMSU                 UTEP                        40 17

I see a lot more scoring by this Miner team and some good new defensive players. Should be competitive in most games and obviously a couple more than the 6 wins I'm predicting are possible and most welcome. Should see bigger crowds this season with the new staff and an exciting offense. TV games will be plentiful. I expect the Nebraska game to be on the Big 10 Network, the Tennessee game on the SEC Network, the 4 October mid-week games on either espnu, espn2 or cbssn. The CSU game is controlled by the MWC contracts so could be cbssn, fs1. Likely one other game will end up on cbssn, either at Liberty or NMSU or vs MTSU or KSU. We will find out late May or early June.

So that will put UTEP in either the New Mexico Bowl or the Frisco Bowl. Either one is winnable for this team but certainly not a sure thing. Both would be well attended by UTEP fans. Go Miners!

[SisyphusMiner]

I need to think about this.  I have some concerns with the D getting tired out, and whether we have enough of the correct offensive personnel.  Just thinking about it now, if you have confidence that your O is going to score on a high percent of possessions, you might take a D approach of hoping to get off the field fast.  Aggressive, blitzing, taking chances.  If you give up a score, the O will get it back, but if you can generate a few 3 and outs or turnovers it will be worth it and tire out the opposing D as well.   You're going for an uptempo game all around.  I don't know if that's his plan, just my random neurons firing

[Minermojo]

I agree with your assessment on the third string QB. I was somewhat surprised that he was good. He was fragile though and I think that is his undoing as a first stringer. He has potential as a second stringer though to give the starting QB a rest or is he injures himself.

I'm very optimistic about this years team and I sure hope that it makes for a winning season, fingers crossed

[SisyphusMiner]

News that we just got a commitment from Corey Wren of TCU.  If he is immediately eligible that alone could be a game changer.  Blazingly fast

[Minermojo]

News that we just got a commitment from Corey Wren of TCU.  If he is immediately eligible that alone could be a game changer.  Blazingly fast

I saw that in the news too but I didn't get what position he plays. TCU is a bonafide good team and anyone from there that wants to come to Utep is welcomed with open arms.

[KiddMiner]

OK I'll play

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Aug 31 UTEP                                      NE                     NE                          34 24

Sep 7   Southern Utah                    UTEP                     UTEP                       38  17

Sep 14   UTEP                               Liberty                   Liberty                    34 28

Sep 21  UTEP                                 CO St                    UTEP                       34 24

Oct 3  Sam Houston                       UTEP                     UTEP                       35 14

Oct 10  UTEP                                  WKU                     WKU                        32 24

Oct 16 FIU                                     UTEP                    UTEP                        34 24

Oct 22 UTEP                                   LA T                    UTEP                        28 17

Nov 2  MTU                                   UTEP                    UTEP                        28 17

Nov 9  Ken St                                  UTEP                  UTEP                       38 10

Nov 23 UTEP                                   Tenn                  Tenn                        52 17

Nov 30  UTEP                                  NMSU                 UTEP                       34 21


The way this staff is fired up I can see another one year turn around. We shall see.

Picks up!!

[Minermojo]

Wow, Kidd sure is optimistic about the team. I sure hope he's right, eight wins is a lot, fingers crossed.

[SisyphusMiner]

News that we just got a commitment from Corey Wren of TCU.  If he is immediately eligible that alone could be a game changer.  Blazingly fast

I saw that in the news too but I didn't get what position he plays. TCU is a bonafide good team and anyone from there that wants to come to Utep is welcomed with open arms.

I read an article from when he was in high school and they said he could play P5 at either RB or slot receiver.  He ran insanely fast 60 and 100 times in track.  If he's still anywhere near that fast Walden will figure out a way to get him in space I think.

[kyyote]

Make your picks, now! Don?t be too late. Upset bonus points could play a huge part in the outcome this year.

[Austintacious]

Fantasy Season, miles from reality. 

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Aug 31 UTEP                                      NE                     UTEP                       34 20
Sep 7   Southern Utah                    UTEP                     UTEP                       38  20
Sep 14   UTEP                               Liberty                   UTEP                       31 27
Sep 21  UTEP                                 CO St                    UTEP                     31 27
Oct 3  Sam Houston                       UTEP                     UTEP                       31 17
Oct 10  UTEP                                  WKU                     UTEP                      34 28
Oct 16 FIU                                     UTEP                    UTEP                        34 17
Oct 22 UTEP                                   LA T                   UTEP                          28 24
Nov 2  MTU                                   UTEP                    UTEP                        38 24
Nov 9  Ken St                                 UTEP                  UTEP                         45 14
Nov 23 UTEP                                   Tenn                  Tenn                         38 20
Nov 30  UTEP                                  NMSU                 UTEP                        40 17

[Minermojo]

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Aug 31 UTEP                                      NE                     NE                          38----28     Nebraska at Nebraska, I'll be glad if we keep
                                                                                                                                 it this close
                                                                                                                                 
Sep 7   Southern Utah                    UTEP                     UTEP                        40----14     We got this

Sep 14   UTEP                               Liberty                   Liberty                      28----24     No way we can win but here's hoping

Sep 21  UTEP                                 CO St                    UTEP                        21-----17    I sure wish I'm right

Oct 3  Sam Houston                       UTEP                     UTEP                         28----24     Sam Houston gave us a good scare but we're
                                                                                                                                  the home team

Oct 10  UTEP                                  WKU                     WKU                         35----21     A team we have trouble beating

Oct 16 FIU                                     UTEP                    UTEP                          28----10     It was close last year but we have home

Oct 22 UTEP                                   LA T                   LA T                             24----10     La Tech has our number especially there

Nov 2  MTU                                   UTEP                    MTU                            24----17     They're always good, we'll be close

Nov 9  Ken St                                  UTEP                  UTEP                           42----14     Kent State? Doesn't matter, we win.

Nov 23 UTEP                                   Tenn                  Tenn                             54----14     No way Jose, we lose this one.

Nov 30  UTEP                                  NMSU                 UTEP                            28----24     Close game, Enemas U. still has good players
                                                                                                                                    from last year but lost QB.

[SisyphusMiner]

We'll have some enthusiasm and belief in the new coach and system and that will count for something.

************************  Home                Winner                     Score  winning score first

Aug 31 UTEP                                      NE                     NE                          45----31     We score a few points off adrenaline but D not ready yet
                                                                                                                                 
Sep 7   Southern Utah                    UTEP                     UTEP                        45----17     Flying high

Sep 14   UTEP                               Liberty                   Liberty                      42----24     They beat us worse than Neb and we all come down to earth.

Sep 21  UTEP                                 CO St                    Co St                        31-----24   We have to learn to win on the road and it doesn't start here.

Oct 3  Sam Houston                       UTEP                     UTEP                         35----24     We aren't losing at home to these guys

Oct 10  UTEP                                  WKU                     WKU                         35----21     Nope

Oct 16 FIU                                     UTEP                    UTEP                          31----10     FIU not that good

Oct 22 UTEP                                   LA T                   LA T                             27----24     close loss

Nov 2  MTU                                   UTEP                    UTEP                            31----24     Defending home turf

Nov 9  Ken St                                  UTEP                  UTEP                           42----17     Convincing win

Nov 23 UTEP                                   Tenn                  Tenn                             45----10    Crushing loss

Nov 30  UTEP                                  NMSU                 UTEP                            35----17     This one makes or breaks the new staff as it will determine bowl eligibility against our archrival.  We come out swinging and kick their ass.


Bowl eligible with one win against a respectable team.  Unbeaten at home and one road win at NMSU.  We win our first bowl game in two millenia or whatever it is.  The city goes nuts and everyone thinks Walden is the new Nick Saban.  Senter offers him a 50 year extension with no buyout and unlimited nachos.

[Alaska Miner]

Well, I was trying to avoid this for as long as possible, but I see this as the last time I'd have time to do this before the season starts.   This is really difficult with a brand new coach, product, and so many absolute unknowns, which is the reason I put it off, but here we go:

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Aug 31 UTEP                                   NEB                  NEB                   41-20    I'm hoping they'll make it closer, but we'll see.
                     
Sep 7   Southern Utah                    UTEP                  UTEP                 35-14     If this one is close, it'll be a long season.

Sep 14   UTEP                               Liberty                UTEP                  31-28    I know I'm crazy for this, but I think the Miners may be out for revenge, but then again, it's a different coach and team this year.                                                                                                                                                               

Sep 21  UTEP                                 CO St                 UTEP                  28-20   Yeah, probably wishful thinking here.                   

Oct 3  Sam Houston                       UTEP                  UTEP                  35 - 30  I just really want them to win this one, since all of a sudden SHSU fans are unbelievable shit talkers on X.                   

Oct 10  UTEP                                  WKU                   WKU                  35- 28  I don't know why I feel like they're going to keep losing to these guys, but if they actually win this many by this point in the season, I'll probably change my mind.

Oct 16 FIU                                     UTEP                  UTEP                   38-24    I don't know... 

Oct 22 UTEP                                   LA T                   UTEP                   31- 17  Yeah...                                       

Nov 2  MTU                                   UTEP                    MTU                    28-24                   

Nov 9  Ken St                                  UTEP                  UTEP                  33 - 17               

Nov 23 UTEP                                   Tenn                 Tenn                   48 - 17      This one will probably be worse than this...         

Nov 30  UTEP                                  NMSU               UTEP                    31-10   Just can't let the Aggies win this one.

Soooo, yeah.  8-4... I'm sure this will look pretty stupid as the year goes on, but with not much more info on the team I'd rather be optimistic and hope for the best.