Here are some game notes....
A couple of schools trying to rebound from a loss collide at Joe Aillet Stadium this Friday, as the UTEP Miners take on the Tulane Green Wave in Conference USA action. The Miners, who were picked by many to win the C-USA title in their first year in the league, enter the contest with a 3-1 overall record and an even 1-1 mark in conference play. The team however, is coming off its first loss of the season on October 1st, a 27-20 setback at Memphis. The loss dropped the club to an even 1-1 on the road and marked its first C- USA defeat of the year. As for Tulane, it had its brief two-game winning streak snapped with a 35-14 loss to Houston. The setback put the team at an even 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference action. It also dropped the Wave to 1-2 in so called "home" games, although Tulane will play no real home games because of its venue being damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Friday's game will be the first-ever meeting between UTEP and Tulane on the gridiron.
Through the first four games of the season the UTEP offense has been nothing short of solid in averaging 29.8 ppg behind 401.8 total ypg. The offense, however, has been pretty much one dimensional, throwing for 298.0 ypg, but rushing for just 103.8 ypg. The Miners have also set themselves back many times this year and have already turned the ball over 12 times. In the team's last game, UTEP racked up 505 total yards, but could not overcome six turnovers in a 27-20 loss to Memphis. Jordan Palmer put forth a good effort, but when all was said and done it was his three interceptions that were remembered the most. Still, Palmer threw for an impressive 431 yards and one touchdown on 23-of-53 pass attempts. Despite some mistakes (six interceptions) Palmer has been a steady producer for the Miners and has thrown for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns this season. His main target has been Johnnie Lee Higgins, who leads the team with 21 receptions for 381 yards and five scores. In a losing cause against Memphis, Lee put up some solid numbers, finishing with seven receptions for 134 yards and a score. Tyler Ebell paced the ground attack in that game, as he rushed 15 times for 69 yards and a score. Despite the lack of dedication to the run Ebell has done some solid work in gaining a team-high 323 rushing yards this season.
On the defensive side of the ball the Miners have been less than impressive and are currently giving up 24.5 ppg and 375.8 total ypg. The unit is allowing a bit to many yards through the air (234.0 ypg), but has made up for some of those yards with nine interceptions. In the squad's previous contest, UTEP failed to record a turnover and allowed 252 yards on the ground in a losing cause against Memphis. The unit yielded just 122 yards through the air, but that was because of its ineffectiveness against the Tigers ground game. Troy Collavo paced the team in defeat with 10 stops and the Miners' lone sack. The one sack was a big disappointment for UTEP, which had posted 15 sacks in its first three games. Chris Mineo has been responsible for many of those sacks, as he leads the team with seven to go along with 19 tackles and nine TFLs.
The Green Wave have yet to get things going on the offensive side of things and conto the contest averaging a modest 21.8 ppg and 310.5 total ypg. The unit has had all sorts of problems with its ground game and is currently gaining just 94.8 rushing ypg. Last weekend, Tulane's offense was simply ineffective, accumulating just 240 total yards in a 35-14 setback to Houston. Lester Ricard struggled to get find a rhythm under center and although he did throw a pair touchdowns he completed just 12-of-32 pass attempts for only 117 yards. Through four games, Ricard has completed 51.5 percent of his throws for 833 yards with seven touchdowns against three interceptions. Preston Brown has provided Ricard with an open target and heads the team with 22 receptions for 240 yards. He caught one of the team's two passing touchdowns last weekend versus Houston and finished with a club-high six receptions for 52 yards. As for the team's ground attack it was paced by Matt Forte, who posted 79 yards on 21 carries. Forte currently leads the team with 258 rushing yards on the season, while Jovon Jackson check in next in line with 164 yards.
Defensively, Tulane has done a good job this season, although it hasn't played too many offensive juggernauts. Still, the unit is allowing a mere 21.8 ppg and just 275.2 total ypg. The Green Wave has fared well against both the run (117.2 ypg) and pass (158.0 ypg), but has generated just six turnovers thus far. Last weekend, Tulane's defense was at its worst, allowing 440 total yards, including 248 rushing yards in a loss to Houston. The defense gave up five total touchdowns (four rushing) in the setback and also allowed the Cougars to convert 7-of-14 third down attempts. Once again, Anthony Cannon paced the team in defeat with a game-high 14 stops. Cannon has been nothing short of phenomenal this season and his 43 stops are nearly double the next closest play on the roster.
UTEP has a few skilled players hurt...
QB... Palmer 3 busted up ribs
RB... Ebell... doubtful hip pointer
WR...Francies... doubtful ribs
For me...I am not impressed with Palmer...this guy throws picks left and right.
Let`s give the dog a shot to keep it close!
BET ID=126389854
Straight Wager 10/14/05 18:02 ET
200.00/190.48 Result: Pending
UTEP
Tulane(N) 10/14/05 (20:05 ET)
Tulane(N) +7 (-105)
A couple of schools trying to rebound from a loss collide at Joe Aillet Stadium this Friday, as the UTEP Miners take on the Tulane Green Wave in Conference USA action. The Miners, who were picked by many to win the C-USA title in their first year in the league, enter the contest with a 3-1 overall record and an even 1-1 mark in conference play. The team however, is coming off its first loss of the season on October 1st, a 27-20 setback at Memphis. The loss dropped the club to an even 1-1 on the road and marked its first C- USA defeat of the year. As for Tulane, it had its brief two-game winning streak snapped with a 35-14 loss to Houston. The setback put the team at an even 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference action. It also dropped the Wave to 1-2 in so called "home" games, although Tulane will play no real home games because of its venue being damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Friday's game will be the first-ever meeting between UTEP and Tulane on the gridiron.
Through the first four games of the season the UTEP offense has been nothing short of solid in averaging 29.8 ppg behind 401.8 total ypg. The offense, however, has been pretty much one dimensional, throwing for 298.0 ypg, but rushing for just 103.8 ypg. The Miners have also set themselves back many times this year and have already turned the ball over 12 times. In the team's last game, UTEP racked up 505 total yards, but could not overcome six turnovers in a 27-20 loss to Memphis. Jordan Palmer put forth a good effort, but when all was said and done it was his three interceptions that were remembered the most. Still, Palmer threw for an impressive 431 yards and one touchdown on 23-of-53 pass attempts. Despite some mistakes (six interceptions) Palmer has been a steady producer for the Miners and has thrown for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns this season. His main target has been Johnnie Lee Higgins, who leads the team with 21 receptions for 381 yards and five scores. In a losing cause against Memphis, Lee put up some solid numbers, finishing with seven receptions for 134 yards and a score. Tyler Ebell paced the ground attack in that game, as he rushed 15 times for 69 yards and a score. Despite the lack of dedication to the run Ebell has done some solid work in gaining a team-high 323 rushing yards this season.
On the defensive side of the ball the Miners have been less than impressive and are currently giving up 24.5 ppg and 375.8 total ypg. The unit is allowing a bit to many yards through the air (234.0 ypg), but has made up for some of those yards with nine interceptions. In the squad's previous contest, UTEP failed to record a turnover and allowed 252 yards on the ground in a losing cause against Memphis. The unit yielded just 122 yards through the air, but that was because of its ineffectiveness against the Tigers ground game. Troy Collavo paced the team in defeat with 10 stops and the Miners' lone sack. The one sack was a big disappointment for UTEP, which had posted 15 sacks in its first three games. Chris Mineo has been responsible for many of those sacks, as he leads the team with seven to go along with 19 tackles and nine TFLs.
The Green Wave have yet to get things going on the offensive side of things and conto the contest averaging a modest 21.8 ppg and 310.5 total ypg. The unit has had all sorts of problems with its ground game and is currently gaining just 94.8 rushing ypg. Last weekend, Tulane's offense was simply ineffective, accumulating just 240 total yards in a 35-14 setback to Houston. Lester Ricard struggled to get find a rhythm under center and although he did throw a pair touchdowns he completed just 12-of-32 pass attempts for only 117 yards. Through four games, Ricard has completed 51.5 percent of his throws for 833 yards with seven touchdowns against three interceptions. Preston Brown has provided Ricard with an open target and heads the team with 22 receptions for 240 yards. He caught one of the team's two passing touchdowns last weekend versus Houston and finished with a club-high six receptions for 52 yards. As for the team's ground attack it was paced by Matt Forte, who posted 79 yards on 21 carries. Forte currently leads the team with 258 rushing yards on the season, while Jovon Jackson check in next in line with 164 yards.
Defensively, Tulane has done a good job this season, although it hasn't played too many offensive juggernauts. Still, the unit is allowing a mere 21.8 ppg and just 275.2 total ypg. The Green Wave has fared well against both the run (117.2 ypg) and pass (158.0 ypg), but has generated just six turnovers thus far. Last weekend, Tulane's defense was at its worst, allowing 440 total yards, including 248 rushing yards in a loss to Houston. The defense gave up five total touchdowns (four rushing) in the setback and also allowed the Cougars to convert 7-of-14 third down attempts. Once again, Anthony Cannon paced the team in defeat with a game-high 14 stops. Cannon has been nothing short of phenomenal this season and his 43 stops are nearly double the next closest play on the roster.
UTEP has a few skilled players hurt...
QB... Palmer 3 busted up ribs
RB... Ebell... doubtful hip pointer
WR...Francies... doubtful ribs
For me...I am not impressed with Palmer...this guy throws picks left and right.
Let`s give the dog a shot to keep it close!
BET ID=126389854
Straight Wager 10/14/05 18:02 ET
200.00/190.48 Result: Pending
UTEP
Tulane(N) 10/14/05 (20:05 ET)
Tulane(N) +7 (-105)
