2005 Utep Miners Handicapping Review

 

By Tom Wilkinson

 

Few college football programs have been more synonymous with losing and ineptitude than the Texas El Paso Miners. As they entered the 2004 season UTEP was coming off it’s third consecutive two-win campaign and a three-year record of 11-21 against the odds. The possible point of light that interested sports bettors was the arrival of Mike Price as head coach. While UTEP lacked the overall appeal to appear on many sports bettor’s lists of football picks, Price would at least provide a reason to keep an eye on the Miners as teams from the Western Athletic Conference, (which UTEP belonged to in 2004), have often shown the ability for dramatic improvement.

UTEP was given a solid chance by many sports betting bloggers in their opener at Arizona State, in which they were installed as 24-point dogs by the sports betting odds makers. UTEP proved to be not ready for prime time, however, in a 9-41 loss and many sports betting bloggers immediately posted after the game that the 2004 Miner squad was beyond even Price’s ability to fix.

After a 32-0 home win over 1-AA Weber State in an un-lined game, UTEP next hosted WAC superpower Boise State and was installed as 28-point home dogs by the sports betting odds makers. UTEP showed signs of fight and got the cash in a 31-47 loss that was encouraging to many members of the sports handicapping fraternity. UTEP continued it’s momentum with a 45-0 home win over New Mexico State as 7.5-point chalks. In their next game, as 18-point dogs at perennial bowl contender Fresno State, (a notoriously tough place to play), UTEP pulled off a stunning 24-21 win and now commanded the FULL attention of sports betting bloggers who were now posting that they were willing to pay the “Price” and include UTEP on their future lists of football picks.

UTEP next won and covered at home against Hawaii, and then got the cash in two more road games at Louisiana Tech and San Jose State to push their winning streak against the odds at six games. Now UTEP was getting national media attention, as well as a look from the general sports betting public, and their value was decimated. The Miners were now over-priced and dropped three of their final four games, (including the Houston Bowl), against the odds. Still, UTEP’s mark of 7-4 against the line impressed the sports handicapping community.