G5 Football Daily

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs @ UTEP Miners: How to Watch and Preview

Will the Miners be able to break their three game losing streak, or will the Bulldogs go 2-0 in conference play?

Kevin Barral

© Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
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Date/Time: Friday, September 29th, 8:00 PM ET

TV: CBS Sports Network: Carter Blackburn as the play-by-play and Robert Turbin as the analyst.

Radio: LA Tech Sports Network: Malcom Butler as the play-by-play, Teddy Allen as the analyst and Jerry Byrd as the sideline reporter

Location: El Paso, Texas

Betting Line: UTEP -1

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

The Bulldogs are coming off of two straight losses, which puts them at 2-3 on the season. However, they are still 1-0 within CUSA thanks to a late game-winning drive against Florida International in week zero.

In the Bulldogs' 28-14 loss against Nebraska last week, quarterback Jack Turner started the game after Hank Bachmeier suffered a shoulder injury in the team's loss to the North Texas Mean Green. Turner threw for 292 yards, one touchdown and one interception versus the Huskers.

Bachmeier's status for Friday's game against the Miners is uncertain. If he is out, Jack Turner will be the starting quarterback once again.

The Nebraska defense was able to contain wide receiver Smoke Harris to only 73 yards on ten receptions. The Bulldogs relied on receiver Cyrus Allen as he had six receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.

LA Tech did struggle in the run game. They combined for a total of 56 yards and freshman Jacob Fields accounted for the team's only touchdown. Running backs Charvis Thorton and Tyre Shelton did not play against Nebraska.

The Bulldogs' offense should be able to bounce back as the Miners rank towards the bottom of the league in most defense rankings and rank seventh in CUSA in pass defense this season.

Defensively, defensive back Myles Heard continues to have a dominant season as he ranks fourth within Conference USA in tackles. Against Nebraska, Heard totaled six tackles, with five of those being solo tackles.

Also ranking in the top ten is linebacker Brevin Daniel who ranks seventh amongst Conference USA in tackles. Daniel totaled eight tackles with five of them being solo tackles. This season, Daniel has totaled 40 tackles and one sack.

UTEP Miners

The Miners just came off their third straight loss against UNLV. Quarterback Gavin Hardison threw for 225 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Linebacker Tyrice Knight continues to put up big numbers game after game which have put him at the top of the Conference in tackles and top five in sacks. Against UNLV, the 6'2", 240-pound linebacker had 15 total tackles with 13 of those being solo tackles.

Where UTEP has struggled all season offensively is moving the chains. Entering this week, the Miners rank dead last in first down conversions. The offense also ranks second to last in scoring and find themselves close to the bottom of each offensive category.

The only category where UTEP find themselves in the middle of the pack is rushing offense. This season, running backs Torrance Burgess Jr. and Deion Hankins have been taking most of the reps. Hankins has run for 297 yards and five touchdowns while Burgess Jr. had a big game against Arizona and has totaled 117 yards and two touchdowns. If there is one thing that has been going well for the Miners, it is the running game.

Thankfully for UTEP, the Bulldogs rank dead last in CUSA rushing defense this season, so if they are going to attack a certain weakness, expect it to be the Bulldogs' struggling front seven.

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Kevin Barral
KEVIN BARRAL

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