Orangebloods staff predictions:
Alex Dunlap
Thirty-one points is too big a spread when considering the Longhorns are a young and inexperienced team facing a UTEP squad not completely devoid of weapons. Texas will get young players involved often which could lead to a few opportunities for Aaron Jones to scamper into space behind a big-bodied (if nothing else) Miners OL. Texas rolls, but not quite by 31.
Texas 52 - UTEP 27
Geoff Ketchum
I'm absolutely fascinated by this game because I want to see if Texas regresses to the mean or plays at a level that was worthy of a No. 11 ranking. It only took a game, but I'm a believer in this offense and I'm left wondering what to make of this Texas defense. Does it take a big step forward or are we going to be left wondering if Texas can win coin-flip shootouts each week? I kind of feel like we'll get an idea based on how they handle a UTEP team that scored 38 points in its opener and has the ability to score multiple touchdowns on Saturday. The line has Texas favored by 30 and I'm hovering right at the number, but a little under.
Texas 38 - UTEP 10
Dustin McComas
With its performance against Notre Dame, Texas looked like a nine-, maybe even a 10-win team. What does that kind of team do against UTEP? It opens up a 40-point lead, and the second-team players start to get a bunch of snaps beginning late in the third quarter.
Last season, FooballOutsiders.com's F/+ overall ranks placed UTEP as the No. 125, out of 128, team in the country (in case you're wondering, the New Mexico State team UTEP beat to open the 2016 season rated 118th in 2015). The only thing that stands in Texas' way this game is Texas.
How will a young Longhorn team respond to the kind of success and belief its never really felt before? We'll see. Texas might be slow out of the gates, but this truly is a game it should win in blowout fashion.
Texas 61 - UTEP 19
Anwar Richardson
Anybody trying to sell me on UTEP being a team that might be able to hang with Texas is just trying to add some sort of dramatic hook for this game. Texas has more athletes and is a superior team. Time will tell if Texas is really the 11th ranked team in the country, but for now, they should be 10 times better than UTEP.
Texas 48 - UTEP 20
Jason Suchomel
I thought UTEP had a chance to move the ball reasonably well before its QB was declared out for this game. Now the Longhorns should be able to just sell out against the run and shut the Miners down.
This one should be an easy win. The most interesting element, for me, will be to watch if Shane Buechele can build off his performance against Notre Dame.
Texas 52 - UTEP 17
