2022 UTEP Miners Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions

Daniel Dobish Sports Betting Expert

3 minute read

2022 UTEP MINERS BETTING ODDS, PREDICTIONS, PREVIEW

The Miners of UTEP turned the corner under head coach Dana Dimel and opened the season with a 6-1 record, attaining bowl eligibility by mid-October. That's a change from many years in the past where the team struggled to manage six victories over two or three seasons combined. There was a three-game skid at FAU, against UTSA and at North Texas in November, and the Miners racked up a seventh victory in November against Rice to earn a trip to the New Mexico Bowl. The Miners put up a fight, but fell 31-24 while cover a two-touchdown spread.

Unfortunately for the Miners they lose one of their most productive players in WR Jacob Cowing. He departed for Arizona, and WR Justin Garrett is looking to catch on in the NFL. WR Tyrin Smith posted 30 grabs for 509 yards and four scores, averaging 17.0 yards per reception, in his 11 games. He'll lead the way. Smith will look to build rapport with QB Gavin Hardison like Cowing had with the QB. The good news for Hardison is that the offensive line is above-average.

The Miners defense was tremendous, allowing just 339.6 total yards per game to rank 29th in the country, while limiting the opposition to 204.5 passing yards per outing to rank 30th. Overall, UTEP allowed just 24.8 PPG to rank 53rd. If they had a weakness it was against the run, and forcing takeaways.

UTEP used the transfer portal, like so many others, to bolster areas of need. S Kobe Hylton arrives from Louisiana, and they also looked to the JUCO ranks for help. LBs Breon Hayward and Tyrice Knight were studs up front, while DEs Praise Amaewhule and Jadrian Taylor combined for 12 sacks, and both are back.

UTEP will open with a difficult, but winnable, game against North Texas before a trip to Oklahoma that won't end well. But with games against the two New Mexico schools, UTEP has a real chance to open 3-1. A home game against Bose State won't do them any favors, but they miss UAB and Western Kentucky in conference play which is good news. This team has a legitimate chance to go 6-6 and go to back-to-back bowl games for the first time since 2004-05.

Best Bet: UTEP OVER 5.5 Wins (-125)

2022 UTEP MINERS SCHEDULE

• Sat., Aug. 27 - vs. North Texas
• Sat., Sept. 3 - at Oklahoma
• Sat., Sept. 10 - vs. New Mexico State
• Sat., Sept. 17 - at New Mexico
• Fri., Sept. 23 - vs. Boise State
• Sat., Oct. 1 - at Charlotte
• Sat., Oct. 8 - at Louisiana Tech
• Sat., Oct. 22 - vs. FAU
• Sat., Oct. 29 - vs. Middle Tennessee
• Sat., Nov. 5 - at Rice
• Sat., Nov. 19 - vs. FIU
• Sat., Nov. 26 - at UTSA

WIN TOTAL ODDS

• Over 5.5 (-125)
• Under 5.5 (+105)

UTEP MINERS ODDS TO WIN C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP

+2500

UTEP has an uphill climb to just post a winning season. That's going to be very difficult. This isn't a team which is going to challenge for one of the top two spots in the conference which would get them into the CUSA title game.

UTEP MINERS ODDS TO WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

+250000

Even when these team had the likes of Jordan Rodgers under center, or Aaron Jones at tailback, it wasn't challenging for national titles. This is a team which is below-average to mediocre, with an occasional above-average season like 2021. It isn't in the business of challenging for natties.

UTEP MINERS 2022 HEISMAN CONTENDERS & ODDS

The UTEP Miners do not have any Heisman contenders to being the 2022 season.

2021 UTEP MINERS BETTING RESULTS

• SU: 7-6
• ATS: 8-5
• O/U: 8-5
• ATS-Home: 4-2
• ATS-Road: 4-3
• ATS-Favorite: 4-1
• ATS-Underdog: 4-4

Daniel Dobish

Dan is a handicapper and sports betting expert for VegasInsider with years of experience writing for a number of top publications in the industry. More from Daniel Dobish