Game will be closer than the Corn-bros, had hoped for!
Walden definitely is a coach, that recognizes the BIG moments. He will put a scare in Nebraska. Will it be enough? Who knows...
Huskers play Colorado the following week, so look for Huskers to come out swinging to make a statement. They have last year's #1 QB in the country. Their QB dilemma's never made them a legitimate Big 10 conference champ threat, but this year some prognosticators give them a shot. The Black Shirts are not quite there yet like 25-30 years ago, but that D line is darn good. Rhule is expected and paid to compete with Michigan and Ohio State and chase a playoff berth and has quietly put together a good team while conference realignment and Deion vs Rhule verbal wars took all the limelight.
However, while UTEP has Westmoreland who is on national watchlist's and draft radars and a legit NFL draft pick and I can see him getting a sack or two, UTEP has a solid good backfield and beefed up WR corp. The 3-3-5 is meant to create iso creations and according to an interview, CS is hoping Westmoreland has those chances because he will win that battle many times. But, Westmoreland is on Husker's radar, look for him to get doubled up. The good thing, as compared to Kug and Dimel's play-the-clock, hair pulling going bald offense fans despised (post AJ era), Scotty will for sure move the ball and his off season recruiting was UTEP best and not seen since Mike Price's inaugural season that had top notch former HC Gary Nord recruits and solid (then P5) transfers. He has weapons and I don't anticipate only 7-14 points when this game is done.
1st game gitters and slop is normal and that stadium is loud and intimidating and while Nebraskans are the kindest, warm hearted folks you will ever meet and not anything like OU, TAMU or Ohio State bat shit crazy fans, they will make game time feel "Gladiator" like.
Sorry UTEP fans, don't expect Scotty to pull a Coach Kill type upset, Nebraska is head and shoulders above Auburn who lost to NMSU.
UTEP 24
Nebraska 45