UTEP at North Dakota State

UTEP is 1-6 and North Dakota State is 6-2. The Miners' last game still shows what their offense can do: 84 plays for 462 yards against San Jose State, 36 more yards than the Spartans gained, and a loss anyway. That is the most plays UTEP has run in a game this season. They ran 50 times for 180 yards and moved the chains 27 times, against 17 for San Jose State. UTEP's passing game went 25 of 34 for 282 yards. Earlier in the season they gained 491 yards and scored 51 against Texas Southern. I make that offense the thread through both bets, because every point UTEP scores trims the margin and adds to the game's total. North Dakota State has scored 27.8 points a game over eight games, at least 28 in six of them. UTEP has allowed 37.3 a game over seven, with 30 or more in five of them. Since beating Wyoming on October 3, North Dakota State is 1-2, with a win by 14 and losses by 6 at UNLV and 5 at New Mexico. I make UTEP with the points and the OVER the play on Saturday afternoon.