WKU Football: WKU vs. UTEP Staff Predictions

Fletcher Keel, 7–3

Fletcher Keel, 7–3

I’ve said it for a couple of weeks now that I’m in “I’ll believe it when I see it,” mode for the Toppers.

You’d think UTEP is where you’ll see it. But I’m not convinced.

I apologize for my half-assness of these predictions lately but honestly it’s so hard to stay invested in a team that is playing as poorly as they are. It isn’t even the record, it’s everything. And this is from the guy who is running his third different WKU blog.

Anyway, UTEP wins this one. I’ll take the Miners, 24–13.

Ross Shircliffe, 6–3 (no prediction for Wisconsin)

WKU’s season sputters on with a win-or-else ultimatum rumored to be in place for head coach Mike Sanford.

This game is the ultimate litmus test to see if the team and staff can rise to the occasion. On paper, UTEP is the perfect opponent to break through against. They, like WKU, only own just one win. But unlike WKU they’ve actually shown improvement especially over the past month. I’m interested to see if some consistency at quarterback can help WKU get some offensive rhythm. Since it’s senior night and a do or die situation for the coaching staff I’m going against my gut and picking WKU to survive a cold game for a 24–21 Win giving Sanford the team a shot to keep his job next week in Ruston.

Matt McCay, 7–3

This game could go 10,000 ways. Both teams lose close games, but there is one team playing decent football right now and that is UTEP. Does that mean they pull a win out on the road in colder weather?

WKU has just had an awful season, and in the past three games, WKU has not even reached 20 points. Western has not stopped any single team for less than 29 points since late September.

My heart is broken. This has felt like WKU’s second win since the home loss to Old Dominion. However, UTEP is as on a roll as a 1–9 team can be. Just look at their recent performances: UTEP has been within nine points of a victory in all but one of their last seven games (UAB). That same game was the only time in recent weeks UTEP did not score 20.

I know WKU is motivated for its seniors, but so are the Miners. They’re ready and poised to take another step, and that step seems realistic. I am sickened, but I don’t see Western pulling this out. I’ve got a stinker of a football game ending with a score of UTEP 21 — WKU 12. Ugh I just wanna throw up. Please prove me wrong, Tops.

Jared Rosdeutscher, 7–3

Even though all of us are underwhelmed by the Tops this season, it doesn’t mean you can’t have an exciting late season game despite the 1–9 record.

This week’s matchup is the “Bottom 25 Game of the Century” according to CBS Sports analyst Tom Fornelli. UTEP is ranked as the #5 worst team while WKU is ranked as #6 so there’s a lot at stake this week.

It’s sad that they are contending for the worst team rather than another C-USA title but with two games left and only one win to show, I’ve accepted the cold reality of what this season has become.

While both of these teams aren’t very good, at least UTEP has been trending upward with a win against Rice (the actual worst team in the conference) (ed. note — ehhhhhhh) and three close games against MTSU, La Tech and UNT.

WKU, on the other hand, has lost six straight and has failed to score more than 17 points in five out of the last six of those games.

It’s November and yet it seems like this WKU team hasn’t improved since September and with most fans’ interest in football depleted, I don’t think there will be a big crowd in The Houch for the last home game (which is really sad for the seniors who have worked and played so hard in their careers on the Hill).

With all that in consideration, I predict that the bottom 25 Game of the Century will live up to the hype and come down to the last minute with the Miners stealing a win, 36–33.

Sam Gormley, 7–3

Hey Coach Sanford, please don’t lose to UTEP. I mean yeah, you already lost to Charlotte and even Maine, but you really can’t lose UTEP.

Like I seemingly say every week, I really do want to pick the Tops. They are better…well should be better than the Miners are. Last season, their trip to El Paso was ugly. WKU escaped with a 15–14 win.

The storyline of this game surrounds whether or not this will be Coach Sanford’s last home game as the head coach of WKU. Diving deeper into it is whether the players will step up to the plate and show that they want him to keep his job or lay flat and all but guarantee the inevitable.

The positives over the past few weeks has centered around the running attack. If WKU can rush the ball with success in this game, I really do think that they win and win easily.

With that being said, I have no idea what will happen. I was one of the lone wolves who picked the Tops to win against ODU and barring one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen live, I would have been right. That play though pretty much wraps up the Mike Sanford era. Just unpredictability.

It is Senior Night though and for that reason I will pick WKU 27–21, but boy I am not confident in that.

Devin Stewart, 3–3 (first prediction was Marshall)

Senior Night, normally reserved for the recognition of seniors who have displayed dedication, perseverance and hard work throughout their careers. We salute you. You’re champions in our book. At least Saints for your patience.

Now to the truly depressing part. Western is playing in a bottom five match up against a Miners team that scored 32 on MTSU. Sadly, the Tops matchup in points scored per game (18) and points allowed (31 for UTEP, 30 for WKU).

The positive things is their QB has thrown six interceptions. So maybe Key, Brown and the defense can take advantage of that. But WKU’s offense makes as much waves as a gnat doing a cannon ball. So I’m expecting this to be a low scoring game, where Sanford’s game management and the Miners heavy run game burn up so much time that there’s no interest by the end.

22–18 UTEP

Please Seniors, prove me wrong.